KEY POINTS
- Dennis Okugbaye, Okuama’s treasurer, also dies in military custody six days after the death of President- General Pa James Oghoroko.
- The community issues a seven day ultimatum to the Federal Government to release the detained leaders and return the corpse of Pa Oghoroko.
- Human rights groups demand a commission of inquiry and the unconditional release of detained Okuama leaders.
The Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State is in grief and anger over the death of its 81 year old Okuama Community Treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, in a military detention.
The death of the community’s President General, Pa James Oghoroko, comes just six days after he died in military custody in the same region too.
Pastor Akpos Okugbaye, son of the late community treasurer, broke the shocking news on Tuesday, setting distressed community members, who protested, into a panic.
Residents of Okuama have given the Federal government and the military seven day ultimatum to release the detained Okuama community leaders and return Pa Oghoroko’s corpse.
The Okuama crisis unfolds
The crisis dates back to an incident in March 14 2024 in Okuama during peace mission by 17 soldiers to deescalate a boundary dispute between Okuama & Okoloba community.
In response, the military engaged in a violent raid of Okuama destroying homes and compelling residents to flee to an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Ewu Kingdom—set up by the Delta State government.
Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu and Mr. Dennis Malaka were also arrested between August 18th and 20th, 2024, together with the now deceased Dennis Okugbaye and Pa James Oghoroko.
It was only after Pa Okubaye’s death was announced, that community protests ratcheted up. They also renewed the call for the release of all detained community members and the return of the remains of Pa Oghoroko. The protesters have warned that if their demands are not met within seven days, they are prepared to block a local river.
We have been pushed to the wall
‘Betrayed as you were,’ Elder Ohwotake Otiero, speaking on behalf of the protesters, condemned the deaths of community leaders in detention. “We are asking for the corpse and those arrested to be released immediately.” Because we have been pushed to the wall, we will take the laws into our hands, Otiero declared. “What reason do you have for killing our President-General by torture?”
President Bola Tinubu and military authorities are being called upon by the protesters to urgently intervene to stop further unrest.
Rights groups condemn ‘prolonged detention’ and alleged torture
The deaths of the two Okuama leaders and the arrest of other community members without trial has been decried by human rights groups and civil society organizations.
Members of advocacy groups led by Pastor Edewor Egedegbe of Value Rebirth & Empower Initiative and Sir John Ebireri of the Ewu Clan Development Forum in Warri during a press conference to mark International Human Rights Day, condemned the unlawful detention of Okuama leaders.
The groups said in a joint statement: “These individuals have spent more than 113 days in detention without being charged.” “This is clearly their basic human rights as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.” ‘Their detention violates the principles of democracy and the rule of law.’
The advocacy groups called on authorities to investigate the deaths of Pa Oghoroko and Pa Okugbaye. They also urged President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate release of the detained community members to include Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo and Dennis Malaka.
It also asked for the creation of a special commission of inquiry to investigate the crime of March 14, the killings of soldiers, and the military’s reprisal attack and destruction of Okuama.
Call for Justice, media practitioners join in
Urhobo Media Practitioners and Advocacy Group also joined others calling for justice. The group, through a statement signed by Mr. Okpare Theophilus Onojeghen, Chief Omafume Amurun and Comrade Shedrack Onitsha, condemned the military, averring that the actions were a violation of human rights.
“This is a gross violation of human rights and a blatant violation of the dignity of the Okuama people,” the statement said.
The media practitioners also demanded an independent and unbiased investigation into both the killing of the 17 soldiers and the military’s violent reprisal against Okuama. Killing soldiers is to be condemned, they said, but the military response must be proportional and not lead to the unlawful killing of civilians or detainees.
The seven day ultimatum issued by the community near expiry has heightened tensions in Okuama. The measures residents say they are willing to take if their demands are not met have raised fears further unrest.
Military authorities have not responded to multiple attempts to obtain comments on the discovery. Civil society organizations and human rights activists meanwhile demand justice and accountability for the death of Pa Oghoroko and Pa Okugbaye and the release of detained community members.
