LAGOS, Nigeria: President of Nigeria on Sunday paid rich tribute to 16 soldiers killed on a peace mission to two warring communities in the southern region of the African country, vowing to bring the culprits to justice.
The troops were sent to control the unrest between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in the oil-rich state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, paying homage to the slain soldiers said the offenders responsible for such heinous crime will be punished.
He added the Defense Headquarters and Chief of Defense Staff have been given full authority to bring to take action against those responsible for this crime against the people of Nigeria.
Tinubu went on to say one civilian was also killed in a direct attack on Nigerian nation.
Earlier, Nigeria’s military said the troops were killed in the Bomadi region after being surrounded by local youths, during an effort to mediate between the ethnic Urhobo village of Okuama, and ethnic Ijaw from the neighbouring village of Okoloba.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said the soldiers had responded to a distress call, after the rival communities had clashed over land ownership and fishing rights killing several people dead.
He said an investigation of the incident was underway and several arrests had been made.
Elder from Okoloba village Clement Koki told media that Okuama youths and mercenaries had posed a continuous threat for some months.
