The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has asserted that the perpetrators behind the tragic killing of 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, are neither from the Niger Delta nor Nigeria.

Addressing the Senate during a debate on Tuesday, he suggested that the youths responsible for the soldiers' deaths might be mercenaries rather than locals. Senator Akpabio emphasized that, despite the severity of the incident, Nigeria is not at war.

In response to the appalling attack, the Senate has initiated an investigation and tasked its Committee on Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force to collaborate with military authorities to uncover the underlying causes of the heinous act.

Furthermore, the Senate called upon the federal government to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice for the slain military personnel. A moment of silence was observed in honor of the fallen soldiers.

Moreover, the Senate advocated for the reinforcement of law enforcement agencies to prevent the military from being entangled in civilian affairs. However, a proposal to extend condolences to the families of innocent civilians killed during the incident was not accepted due to uncertainty regarding the exact number of casualties.

While rejecting the suggestion for relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the affected community, the Senate agreed to compensate the families of the deceased soldiers promptly. This resolution was put forth by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin and seconded by Senator Tony Nwoye.