…Says No One Has Been Harassed By Military In Okuama
…Promises To Return Fleeing Okuama Villagers Back Home
Exactly a month and six days after 17 military personnel were gruesomely murdered around Okuama community in Ewu Kingdom of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Saturday finally visited the community for the very first time.
Oborevwori, who led top government functionaries including some members of the State House of Assembly to the troubled riverine town, was accompanied by the Commander of the 63 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Unachukwu Ugochukwu and Commander of 181 Battalion, Lt Col Dabo.
The governor, who took tour of the community, however failed to condemn the level of destruction on villagers’ buildings and other properties as a result of the ugly incident.
Recall that 17 military personnel including a lieutenant colonel, two majors and captain were brutally killed by unknown gunmen around the community on March 14, 2024.
The slain officers and soldiers were said to be on peace mission to Okuama over a disputed boundary with Okoloba community when they were ambushed and murdered by unknown gunmen.
The incident resulted in villagers fleeing the community for fear of reprisal attack by soldiers deployed to the area by the Nigerian military.
Okuama has remained inaccessible to government representatives, journalists and others who have sort to visit the embattled community.
But speaking during his visit to the community on Saturday, Governor Oborevwori promised return indigenes who fled the community in the wake of the crisis back to the community.
He assured that innocent citizens would not be made to suffer for what they know nothing about over the crisis.
Oborevwori said, “We have followed due process in the whole incident. The people have been buried and the King that was detained has been released yesterday and today I am here to see what happened in Okuama community.
“The Okuama 17 is something that we didn’t expect to happen because it is against our bargain for peace and security which I promised Deltans that we are going to enhance.
“We have been enjoying peace and security since last year until the 14th of March when the four Army officers and 13 soldiers were murdered.
“They were not just murdered, their bodies were mutilated and we have come here to see what happened.
“Let me again reiterate Mr President’s promise that no innocent person would be victimised and you can see that, from that time till now, there has been no harassment of citizens of this community.
“I have come to see how the innocent people of this community can be reintegrated back with the cooperation of the military.
“We know its a big loss to them but we have to follow due process. The Brigade Commander is with us and the newly posted Commander of 181 Battalion, Lt Col Dabo, is also here with us and its a great synergy.”
He said his administration was doing a lot to effectively resolve the dispute, adding that citizens of Okuama would soon return home.
Continuing, Governor Oborevwori, said: “Let me once again thank Mr President and Commander in Chief, Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff for their cooperation so far.
“They have been very supportive and they have kept to their promise that innocent people will not be victimised. I want to assure the people of Okuama there is no point running away from your community.
“We are going to bring you back to your community. It’s only those that are involved the military are looking for”.
