By Akpokona Omafuaire
The people of Okuama, a once bubbling riverside community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state have cried our for help saying they have been abandoned by the relevant authorities to live in ruins since their community was destroyed by security personnel two years ago.
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Following the killing of 17 military personnel in March 2024 by some hoodlums in the aftermath of community clash between Okuama and one of its neighbours, the security agents in a reprisal, levelled all the houses in Okuama except the Anglican Church where the soldiers took shelter during their operation
Two years later, Okuama is still in ruins, shanty tents dotted the space and makeshifts have become homes to people who owned houses before the incident. Last Wednesday, the people of Okuama community embarked on a protest march against the continued detention of their leaders and called on Nigerians to intervene in their plight. They vowed that if their leaders were not released or charged to court, there would be no election in their area.
When Vanguard visited the community this week, the people expressed the pains and suffering they were going through.
Chairman of Okuama Community, Mr Vote Johnwalker, said “it has been over two years since our community was destroyed by security agents. In August 2024, they arrested our leaders Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adugbo and others have not been taken to court for arraignment or released. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Sen. Ede Dafinone, Rt.Hon Ejiroghene Waive and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to swiftly move to release these people or facilitate their being taken to court. Again, we are in great suffering as our community is in ruins. The Governor was able to build a health Centre, Primary and Secondary school but none is functioning. Over two years now, our children have not gone to school, we don’t have any functional medical centre. We have been abandoned by everyone and we are crying for help, the oppression is too much. We have decided that there will be no election in Okuama Community unless our leaders are released. If they are interested in our votes, they should solve our problem.
Another indigene of the community, Mr Joseph Oberiko, said “we are surprised that our people have been arrested for almost two years without trial, one of them died in detention and the corpse we cannot see. We learnt that a Federal High Court in Warri gave an order that the detained leaders should be brought to court but the army has refused to obey the order of the court. We are tired, we want the government to end this oppression against Okuama.
You can see that we are homeless and living like bush men, there is no home over our heads. The storm of Monday night has wreaked havoc on the tents we managed to build. Some families suffered injuries as a tree fell upon their hut. Someone already died from the incident as we speak, our suffering knows no bounds. Since we left the IDP camp in Ewu, we could barely eat, we have no means of livelihood, our children are out of school, many of the girls have become pregnant and the boys are wandering in the bush daily to find food to eat. The schools built by the Government are not furnished, so no teacher has resumed, over two years our children’s futures have been destroyed. Are we really part of Nigeria? Which law allows people to come and burn down a whole community without rebuilding it, which law says people can be arrested without trial, we need urgent answers, we call on our traditional rulers and Urhobo nation to help us so that this injustice can end.
Another member of the community, Mr. Frank Oghoghorie, said, “I am happy that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is a Christian, and President Bola Tinubu is a Muslim who also fears God. We are protesting because of the injustice that has been done to us. We don’t even know if our community leaders are still alive. James Oghoroko, President General of Okuama died in detention, Pa Dennis Okugbaye almost died in detention before they managed to release him, he has been in hospital since suffering from the ill treatment given to him. In the Community, we are suffering, our houses were uprooted and we live in tents, there is no single habitable house in the Community, we live with reptiles in a dangerous condition, no bed, no foam, no food to eat. We live at the mercy of mosquitoes and harsh weather. When it rains we don’t sleep, we hide in a corner of the tent, we don’t live as human beings should do, no toilet, no drinking water, we bathe and drink from the same river.
We call on the government to take action, ensure that our leaders are released or taken to court, this injustice is pushing us so hard that we are about to lose it. We call on the Urhobo nation to take up this issue, they cannot allow us to continue like this. Every well meaning Urhobo people should take up this challenge and end this suffering and injustice.
On her part, Mrs. Maria Adam, another native of the community, lamented last Tuesday’s storm that caused the death of her child. According to her, “as a result of last Tuesday night’s storm, a tree fell upon me and my five children, one of them died thereafter while the others have been taken to nearby villages. The situation is so bad, there is no medicine store here. I lost that child because of lack of medicare.
The suffering is too much, our children have been out of school, We don’t have any house that can be called a house, we stay in the tent where mosquitoes feast on us, no water to drink, our only source of water is the stream. Where are the Urhobo great men, where are the politicians? The Government should plan and rebuild our destroyed homes, restore our schools so that our children can start school again”.
Queen Oghenehwosa, former Woman Leader, added her voice. She said, “We are protesting because we are tired. Since 14th March, 2024 that Okuama was attacked and destroyed, we ran into the bush where we suffered like animals, we are innocent of what happened. Even the Chief of Defence Staff that time, Gen. Christopher Musa in an interview said that the soldiers were killed by bunkerers and Amagbein. So why do we have to suffer for what oil bunkerers did, we don’t have oil or pipelines passing through here.
Our homes were completely destroyed and our leaders were arrested. We want the government to look into this matter and release our people. We have suffered too much, our livelihoods were destroyed, no house, no school, no water, no hospital. The Governor built Primary and Secondary schools but no desks, how can they go to school without desks? The Governor built a health centre without bringing nurses, the place is locked. We suffer before getting common medicine. Are we really part of Nigeria? We are tired, we call upon the NGOs, kings, politicians, activists to help us.
Call to action
Worried by the situation, Frank Tietie, lawyer, human rights advocate and Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) Abuja, in a statement said, “I am compelled, to call urgent national attention to the continued detention of leaders and members of the Okuama community in Delta State without charge or trial since 2024.
“This situation raises grave constitutional and moral concerns for a country that prides itself on adherence to the rule of law. At my last check, the following persons have been subjected to prolonged detention without formal charges: Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Professor of Physics at Delta State University and President-General, Ewu Development Union; Chief Belvis Adogbo; Dennis Amalaka and Mabel Owhemu. James Achovwuko Oghoroko, was reported to have died in military custody while Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Treasurer of Okuama Community was reported to be critically ill and later released on health grounds.
“The continued detention of these individuals without arraignment before a competent court of law constitutes a flagrant violation of their constitutional right to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Let it be abundantly clear that while I do not, and will never, condone criminality under any guise, including that of community leadership, there can be no justification whatsoever for the indefinite detention of any Nigerian citizen on mere suspicion, association, or leadership status.
Indeed, the allegation of killing soldiers of the Nigerian Army is grave, nevertheless the law, being the very foundation of society, must take its course or else, injustice would prevail.
“If there is credible evidence linking any of these detainees to the tragic killing of soldiers in the Okuama–Okoloba crisis, then the proper and lawful course of action is simple and well established: Charge them to court and allow due process to take its course. Anything short of this is not justice but clear arbitrariness which must be condemned.
“A government cannot, on the one hand, claim fidelity to the rule of law and, on the other hand, act in a manner that suggests that certain citizens are invisible, expendable, or undeserving of legal protection. Such conduct undermines public confidence in state institutions and erodes the very foundation of democratic governance.
“I therefore call on: The President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The Nigerian Military Authorities, The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Traditional rulers and influential leaders in the Niger Delta region to urgently intervene to ensure that: The detainees are immediately released, or at the very least, they are promptly charged before a court of competent jurisdiction and tried in accordance with the law. Justice delayed, in this circumstance, is not merely justice denied but it is justice subverted.
“While I have refrained from approaching this issue through ethnic or tribal sentiment, I cannot ignore the deep concern that arises from the fact that these detainees are of Urhobo extraction, a people with whom I share immediate ancestry by birth and nativity. The growing sense of helplessness expressed by many of my kinsmen is both troubling and unnecessary. I do believe strongly that this is not a helpless situation.
“Where authorities fail to act within the bounds of the law, the law itself provides instruments to compel compliance. I am therefore actively considering appropriate legal steps to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
“The time already spent in detention by the Okuama leaders is more than sufficient for any serious investigation to determine the extent of their culpability. Therefore, if evidence exists, let it be tested in open court. If not, these individuals must regain their freedom without further delay.
“Nigeria must not become a nation where liberty is conditional, and justice is selective. It will ultimately be in the interest of all, especially, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and indeed, the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole if we let the rule of law prevail.” he added.
