The 11 soldiers who were killed in the bloody Benue communal clash between Konshisha and Oju local government areas in Benue State have been buried on Monday in Wurukum Military Cemetery in Makurdi, the Benue State capital amid high emotions.
One captain and 10 soldiers were found dead after they went missing at Bonta Village in Konshisha Local Government Area.
Governor Samuel Ortom and top military officers attended the funeral ceremony.
Ortom, while speaking at the interment, regretted the death of the Army personnel and vowed to collaborate with security agencies to bring peace to Konshisha.
The Governor also expressed condolences with President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff and the leadership of the Armed Forces over the death of the soldiers, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Ortom apologised to the families of the fallen heroes where he vowed that the state government would collaborate with security agencies to ensure that all those who perpetrated the act would be fished out and brought to book, saying he regretted how the soldiers died in the hands of the militias while trying to ensure peace in troubled areas of the state.
“We condemn the killing of the soldiers who were out to maintain peace. Attack on security men is an attack on all. Then e attack was uncalled for and unwarranted.
“They were out to keep peace and got killed in the process otherwise, we all know what soldiers would ordinarily do in such a situation,” he said
Governor Ortom also appealed to the families of the deceased soldiers to forgive him for uncomplimentary comments he may have made in the course of the situation, saying he said that based on the information available to him at that time.
“If I said anything offensive to the families, I ask for their forgiveness. I earlier said only two soldiers were based on the information available to me at that time.”
The governor pledged his administration’s support for the bereaved families to enable them to overcome the difficult moment.
He prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
Watch the video of the burial below.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CNmBDIrnqqN/?igshid=6hqyytm4qygl
