From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, has condoled President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff over the killing of 12 military personnel in Bonta Village, Konshisha Local government area of the state.
Ortom also sympathised with the leadership of security forces in the country as well as families of the fallen heroes even as he vowed that his government would collaborate with security agencies to ensure that all those who were in perpetrating the act would be fished out and brought to book.
Speaking at the burial, which took place at the Military Cemetery, Wurukum, Makurdi yesterday, the state governor regretted the death of the army personnel in the hands of the militias while trying to ensure peace in troubled areas of the state.
“We condemn the killing of the soldiers who were out to maintain peace. Attack on security men is attack on all. The attack was uncalled for and unwarranted.
“They were out to keep peace and got killed in the process, otherwise, we all know what soldiers would ordinarily do in such a situation.”
The governor also passionately appealed to the families of the deceased soldiers to forgive him for uncomplimentary comments he may have made in the course of the situation, saying he said that based on the information available to him at the time.
“If I said anything that was offensive to the families, I ask for their forgiveness. I earlier said only two soldiers were involved, based on the information available to me at that time.”
The remains of 12 military personnel, including one captain and 11 soldiers, were committed to mother earth in the presence of the governor, Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke OPWS, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, the Commanding Officer, 72 Battalion, military personnel as well as family members of the deceased soldiers.
Conducting the funeral service, Chaplain of 73 Battalion, Major Ibrahim Mavisky, as well as the Imam, Captain AA Bashir, both noted that the fallen heroes were peacemakers who went out not for evil, but for peace and regrettably met their death in the process.
“These people died innocently and without any offence. It is the promise of God that each of us has a stipulated time to go.
“We will all go back to God, someday, and explain how we live our lives. God will console the entire Nigerian Army and the immediate families they left behind.
What is the SIN of the Security agencies that warranted all these National assault? Is it because they choose to protect lives and properties and maintain law and order as their clarion called?. For the military to becomes victims of general insecurities in Nigeria was a cleared manifestation that democracy not really compatible with a sicked society called Nigeria because the killing of soldiers and the questionable dimension of attacking police stations continuously asking questions of, What is the SIN of security agencies that warranted all these barbarism?. At the early stage of terrorism in Nigeria, The Nigerian Christians were of the strong notion that it was an agenda to Islamatised Nigeria and they are victims of terrorism because of their Christian Faith of which act of terrorism no matter the way it presented itself every members of the society are victims in many ways physically, psychologically, mentally and economically so What is the SIN of the security agencies?. In these ugly security situations in the country where the military and police are direct victim of very bad Democratic governance, would Restructuring, True Federalism and agitation for police control by state end the problems? Why is Nigeria upon its claimed of been educated home and abroad always enjoyed to treats symptoms and abandoned its diseases so would that cure the challenges?. These ugly security situations where the military and police remained main target of attack was another cleared manifestation of a symptoms of a sickness of a society which directly run counter to the Democratic tradition and its philosophy of achieving Good governance in an atmosphere of Peace, Unity and Progress therefore does a sicked society compatible with democracy?