Nigerian comedian Atunyota Akpobome, aka Ali Baba, has condemned the recent killing of 17 officers of the Nigerian Army in Delta, describing it as abominable.

Mr Akpobome, who condemned the act in an interview in Lagos, said the gruesome murder of the soldiers smacked of eroding societal values.

He spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of ‘Anything and Everything Journalism’ and ‘My Story of Many Colours’, books written by the publisher of Yes International Magazine, Azuh Arinze, in Lagos on Monday.

According to him, the murder of soldiers showed that the nation was suffering from poor moral education in the country.

“Killing another human being is bad; the killing of anybody that works for an institution, especially an institution like the army that protects the people, is worse.

“Overseas, when you are travelling, they (airport authorities) board the military personnel first, as well as retired officers. What it means is that we need to begin to know our values totally in the country. This is unfortunate.

“You do not respect the military that protects you. You went ahead to then kill them: whatever the reason you have, it is a huge crime. You don’t kill a soldier man. You don’t even push him, slap him or resist an arrest. It is a crime,” the comedian said.

According to him, anyone hurt by misdemeanours committed by public officers, including soldiers, is expected to take evidence and approach relevant authorities for redress.

Mr Akpobome, however, called on the Public Complaints Commission, the National Orientation Agency and other institutions established to douse tensions should be up and doing and restore public confidence.

Advocating a new constitution for the country, the comedian said the constitution that made the states and regions weak could not take Nigeria to achieve the dream of its founding fathers.

He said the current constitution had made the centre too powerful, affecting the progress of the federating units.

On the clamour for state police, Akpobome said that the step had become very necessary in the light of the present security challenges faced by the nation.

He said policing should be from the grassroots to address insecurity effectively.

On March 14, at least 17 senior military officers and soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, deployed to quell clashes between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Delta, were ambushed and killed in Okuama Ughelli South LGA.

(NAN)