The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the gruesome murder of the 16 military officers of the Nigerian Army in the Ughelli South local government area of Delta state.
In a statement released in Abuja by the ECOWAS commission which was made available to journalists and double posted on the official Twitter handle said the development was unacceptable describing it as a “cowardly act”.
In the statement, the commission expressed its deepest condolences and sympathies with the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigerian armed forces as well as the families of the fallen soldiers.
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It also called on the authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the soldiers and apprehend the perpetrators to bring them to justice.
The statement reads “It is with utter shock and a heavy heart that the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) received the news of the gruesome murder on 14 March 2024 of 16 personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Ughelli South Local Government area of Delta State.”
“The Commission strongly condemns this cowardly act. It expresses its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the fallen soldiers as well as to the Armed Forces, the Government, and the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Commission prays for the peaceful repose of the souls of the gallant soldiers and wishes the injured quick recovery. The Commission calls on the authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the soldiers and apprehend the perpetrators with the view to bringing them to justice.”
“The Commission urges the communities to eschew all forms of violence and employ pacific means to resolve their differences and maintain communal
harmony in the overall interest of all.”