Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State is currently on his way to Okuama community of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state where 17 military personnel were reportedly killed on March 14.
It was the first time the governor was visiting the troubled community after he had earlier been allegedly denied access to the community last month.
The boat conveying the governor and his delegation to Okuama took off from the jetty of the Nigerian Port Authority in Warri on Saturday morning.
Governor Oborevwori is being escorted to the community by operatives of the military Joint Task Force.
Since the sad and tragic incident which claimed the lives of the soldiers and some civilians, Okuama has been cordoned off by the military authorities.
Oborevwori during a visit to President Bola Tinubu last month told State House Correspondents that he had not visited the community because the entire area had been deserted by residents following military operation in the area.
The governor was accompanied by heads of security agencies in the state as well as top members of his cabinets.
Recall that 17 military personnel including a lieutenant colonel, two majors and a captain were reportedly ambushed and gruesomely murdered around Okuama community while on a peace mission over a disputed portion of land between Okuama, an Urhobo community and Okoloba, an Ijaw community on March 17.
Following the killing of the personnel, the Nigerian military had earlier declared eight persons including the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo, Urhukpe 1 and a renowned professor and President-General of Ewu communities wanted for the killing of the soldiers.
Barely 24 hours after he was declared wanted, the Ewu monarch turned himself in to the police in Delta, but was later handed over to the military for interrogation.
The Ovie of Ewu Kingdom was, however, released by the military to the Senator Ede Dafinone after spending three weeks in military facility in Abuja.
Details Later…
