Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has voiced opposition to the proposed construction of a military barracks in Okuama community, following the tragic killing of 17 soldiers during a peacekeeping mission in the area.
In an interview with Punch on Sunday, Senator Dafinone expressed his reservations about the idea, citing the historical significance of Okuama as an ancestral home to its residents.
He cautioned against the hasty transformation of the community into a military barracks, equating it to an act of ethnic cleansing. He urged the military authorities to reconsider their plans if indeed they are contemplating such a move.
"I don't think that will be a good decision. Don't forget that that community has been the ancestral home of a people for hundreds of years now. When you convert a people's ancestral home to a military barracks overnight, you have in one fell swoop eclipsed the ancestry of those people; it is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The military authority should rethink if truly they have muted the idea," remarked Senator Dafinone.
Expressing disbelief over the tragic events in Okuama, Senator Dafinone struggled to comprehend how such highly-ranked military officers could be ambushed and killed by militants or hoodlums in a single strike.
He extended his condolences to the Nigerian Army and the bereaved families, urging the military to exercise mercy in their pursuit of justice and to refrain from allowing emotions to cloud their judgment.
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