Following the gruesome murder of four Army officers and 13 soldiers in the Okuama community, Ughelli South council area of Delta state, the apex youth bodies of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, on Thursday met in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state to find a lasting peace to the troubled areas.

Worldwide presidents of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Blessed Ughere and Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, while regretting the fate of the fallen soldiers, as well as innocent civilians, consoled the bereaved families, Nigerian Army, as well as the Nigerian government.

The youth leaders appealed for caution and restraint in the quest to find the masterminds of the dastardly act.

They emphasized the need for peace and unity among Niger Deltans, particularly, the Urhobo and Ijaw people.

Recalling the peaceful coexistence and aged-long relationship between both Okuama and Okoloba (in Bomadi LGA) communities, they sued for a peaceful resolution of the land dispute that degenerated into last Thursday’s killings.

Speaking on the incident, IYC’s Lokpobiri said: “There is no war between the Urhobo and the Ijaw nations in Delta State, although there is a little boundary misunderstanding between the Okuama and Okoloba communities.

“That is the reason we are here to talk because it is only in the animal kingdom they go to war without talking to each other. We are here to engage ourselves in a peaceful talk to advance our friendship and promote genuine peace among our people.

“Let’s join hands together to speak for caution and restraint to avoid more loss of lives and properties.

“It is appalling that our society today is depending more on warfare instrumentality, than intellectual means of resolution.

“I remember when Warri was the oil business hub in the Niger Delta region, the Urhobos, Ijaws Itsekiri, Isokos were beneficiaries of the oil boom before relocating to Lagos. Let’s work together for genuine peace so that development and investments can continue to thrive in our region”.

On his part, UPU’s Ughere pointed out that both tribes, and particularly, the indigenes of warring Okuama and Okoloba communities are at least 30 percent intermarried, so they are families.

“Precious lives have been cut short in this avoidable crisis and collateral loss incurred. We must speak with one voice, in unity to end this crisis and work together for the lasting peace of our region,” the UPU youth president stressed.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta State, Major General Jamal Abdussalam says troops conducting operations over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community would remain in the creeks until weapons carted away are recovered and perpetrators of the heinous crime are apprehended, as ordered by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

He stated this when the Managing Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr) Samuel Ogbuku paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks Thursday.

According to a statement by Lt Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, the GOC assured that the operations would be conducted most professionally in line with the global best practices, just as he encouraged the people of the area to go about their normal activities. (The Nation)