Ngarbuh massacre: SDF commends work of inquiry commission but calls for more action

The Social Democratic Front, SDF has applauded the action of the inquiry committee into last February killings in the village of Ngarbuh.

While describing the findings as an important step in the process of healing the nation, the SDF said proper judicial actions must be taken to bring perpetrators of the massacre to book.

“We must have the courage to talk with those who lead these armed separatist groups” said the SDF in a statement issued Friday.

The SDF party is the latest to react to government’s decision on the Ngarbuh massacre in the Donga Mantung division, North West region.

Acknowledging that the report clearly establishes the direct involvement of some members of the forces of law and order, the party says “it reveals major dysfunctions recorded during the disastrous operation and particularly within the military command.”

The party also recognises some of government’s findings including the fact that civilians were killed in the massacre and that there was an encounter between soldiers and separatist fighters.

Highlighting that soldiers still employ the use of non state armed groups, “it should also be made clear that it is impossible to restore republican order by outsourcing the sovereign role of the defence and security forces to dubious groups” says the SDF. ” The modus operandi of this disastrous operation is identical to many other equally scandalous operations, some videos of which show civilians and elements of the armed gangs killed and the dwellings all around the victims burned. It is therefore not an isolated case” it adds.

Despite its shortcomings, the commission’s work should be commended Hon. Joshua Osih, first National Vice President of the party says. “Moreover, the government should take this opportunity to provide investigated and fact-based answers to the many other crimes, assassinations and massacres perpetrated since the outbreak of the crisis in the North West and South West regions. These scandals must be clarified” he adds.

“The SDF has a deep thought for the deceased and once again extends its sincere condolences to the grieving families and who will unfortunately have to undergo the terrible psychological experience of the exhumation of the bodies of their loved ones. No one should have to experience such as a result of the excesses of a few” he ends.

The latest statement from the SDF comes weeks after it lost in the rerun of the legislative elections in some areas of the North West and South West regions.

The party since the start of the crisis has maintained that it stands for federalism as a means to solve the ongoing crisis.

Mimi Mefo Info