Police Brutality Hasn’t Abated – Rev Fr Abaka
The National Association of Seadogs also known as the Pyrates Confraternity has vowed to honour the memories of six its members who were brutally murdered by men of the Nigeria Police Force in 1983 at the city of Ughelli in Delta State.
Seadogs lamented that after 41 years of the Umalokun Massacre which occurred at the Oharisi Primary School in Ughelli, police brutality in the country has noted abated but rather the situation has degenerated resulting in many deaths.
The six members – Anthony Teddy Omakor, Princely Otegho Otaye, Aghogho Kester Sobotie, Victor Oyailo, Joseph Uloho, and Bernard Obi – were murdered at Oharisi Primary School in Ughelli on December 27, 1983.
The association stated this at the 2024 Umalokun Massacre Memorial lecture and foundation laying ceremony held in honour of the six slain members at the Umalokun Deck in Ughelli.
The event began with a thanksgiving service at St. Michael Catholic Church in Otovwodo and was attended by the National President of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS Cap’n) Worldwide, Dr. Joseph Oteri, along with national officers, global NAS members, friends, and dignitaries, including Very Rev. Fr. Abaka Oghenejode Jnr.
Speaking at the reception held at the NAS Umalokun Deck Ankor Point Pavilion in Ughelli, NAS Cap’n, Dr. Oteri condemned the circumstances leading to gruesome murder, saying NAS felt it necessary to always honour them every December 27th.
Dr. Oteri remarked that the foundation of the memorial hall was laid in honour of the six members, emphasising that the memorial would serve as a lasting tribute to them.
According to him, “The memorial Hall which foundation was laid is in their memory and anyone that will enter this place and see the hall will remember that on December 28, 1983, a sad event happened in the history of NAS.
“This hall will make us to continually remember them and keep their memory afresh any day anybody mentioned Umalokun they will know that, that was the event that happened in that year. The case of the six members killed is a peculiar sad situation, they were between or less than 30-40 years and somebody just came and gun them down.
“For any NAS members that died in that circumstance, they are always remembered and given this same respect, because death is the worst thing that can happen to Seadogs and many Seadog that has been incarcerated in different prisons have been recognised.”
On his part, President of Umalokun Deck, Mr Clement Ikpedia said the building would serves as a museum for victims of the Umalokun Massacre, noting that NAS will continue to honour their memorial.
“The essence of this ceremony is to honour some of our members that were brutally killed by the Nigeria police in 1983, and we immortalising them by organising an annual memorial. The building foundation that was laid is to remember them as the 6 brutally murdered and act as museum where their pictures be displayed as a reminder to old and incoming members”, Ikpedia noted.
In his remark, Very Rev. Fr. Abaka Ambrose Oghenejode Abaka reflected on the history of NAS, which was founded by notable Nigerians including Professor Wole Soyinka.
Fr. Abaka lamented that despite the passage of the Umalokun Massacre victims over 41 years, little had changed in terms of police brutality, noting that many innocent Nigerians continue to suffer similar fates.
“It is quite unfortunate that these persons were killed for over 40years ago and the system have not changed, and many innocent Nigerians have been just like them without verifying every situation.
“From the very beginning, the NAS wanted a change and transformation in the system as at them and today they have added value and creates impact their abodes and various profession.
“In my take, they are on course and they are following the mission and objectives of the Confraternity and it is only the NAS that can bring about the change and the transformation we needed in this country.
“This country cannot change except through a revolution and we need that change and transformation by implementing the decisions of constitutional conference for the common good, advancement and development of our country”, he added.
Highlight of the event was commissioning of the Umalokun Deck Ankor and presentation of cheques to family members in honoured of the fallen members.
