Militants have no reason to kill soldiers – Gov. Okowa

The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday said militants had no justification to kill Nigerian soldiers carrying out lawful duties in the state.
Okowa, who was reacting to Wednesday’s killing killing of Nigerian soldiers and other civilians by militants in a houseboat at Omadino, Warri South Local Government Area, said such rascally action could turn the state into a theatre of war.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Aniagwu Charles, he noted: “This killing is criminality carried too far as nothing justifies the taking of lives of uniformed security men who are out to protect the common property of Nigerians.
“Your activities could turn Delta State into a theatre of war and this portends great danger to the whole population aside from casting the image of the state as insecure and unfit for investment.
“We cannot, as a state, afford this rascality if we hope to make progress.”
Governor Okowa, who recalled his earlier appeals to any aggrieved member of the society, including the Niger Delta militants, to embrace dialogue, said this informed the decision by his government to constitute an Advocacy Committee against Oil Facility Vandalism.
He said the committee went round the creeks and oil producing communities, in the last few weeks, to canvass support for a violence-free Delta State as a precondition for development.
He reiterated that no society would develop in an atmosphere of chaos and criminality, adding that no government would fold its hands in the face of this high level of aggravation and utter disregard for the sanctity of human lives.
He said: “For the umpteenth time, I wish to call on well meaning people of Delta State to speak up and not only condemn the activities of these militants, but also offer their best counsel and commitment towards resolving this crisis.”
Governor Okowa extended the condolences of his family and the people of Delta State to the families of the victims and prayed God to grant them eternal rest, while urging the security agencies to ensure that the culprits do not go scot free.
He also advised members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace dialogue as a means of resolving the crisis, adding that a peaceful and secured Delta State was what is needed for development to thrive.