An elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw Nation, Edwin Clark, expressed skepticism regarding the notion that the recent killing of soldiers in a Delta State community was perpetrated by mercenaries.
Clark made these remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday.
The elder statesman emphasized the importance of questioning the leaders of the communities implicated in the incident, stressing that no one should be exempt from scrutiny.
He characterized the incident as shocking, barbaric, and wicked, proposing that both the military and the communities collaborate to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killings.
He said, “Well that is difficult to believe. I don’t think we should expect this thing. Let’s look at ourselves. As I said, I spoke to the Lt Col on Thursday and he went to the place on Thursday and died.
“Except they had information they were going to Okuama. Otherwise, nobody knew they were going there.
“People to come from outside to waylay them, to surround them is a matter they should investigate. We can’t rule anything out but at the same time let us look at ourselves.
“The leaders of the various communities must be brought together, and find out from them, nobody should be treated as a sacred cow.
“I may say this: I am an Ijaw man and I will be the last person to allow this type of matter to degenerate to a situation whereby we have intercommunal fracas or fight,” he said.