DISPLACED Indigenes of Okuama community currently harboring at the Ewu-Okuama IDP Camp, at Ewu-Urhobo have appealed to the state and federal governments to prevail on the Nigerian army and Department of State Services to unconditionally released their leader that have being arrested.
They held that the recent arrest of their community leaders has caused them a huge trauma as they have vowed not tho return to their ancestral home if they are not released unconditionally.
It would be recalled that six leaders of Okuama community, Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo,Denis Okugbaye, Mrs Rita Akata, Pa. Anthony Ahwemuria, Mr James Oghoroko and Mr. Denis Malaka, who is from Isoko but a tenant to James Oghoroko at Ogilo street, Oteri-Ughelli.
The women leader of Okuama community, Mrs Josephine Oghenehwosa while speaking to newsmen at Ewu-Urhobo IDP Camp, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State said, “Since we got the news of the arrest of our community leaders, it has not been easy with with us and we are currently afraid to return back to Okuama.
Some of us are on hunger strike because our arrested leaders are those interfacing with the government in other to restore peace and rebuild our destroyed Okuama community and till this very moment,we don’t know their location as no security agents have come to tell the world that they are responsible for the arrest.
Our arrested leaders are innocent, as what happened on March 14, 2024 cannot be connected to them, after we might have entertained them when they visited the community, the Urhobo people are very hospitable.
We are crying bitterly because we never expected this arrest of our leaders as they are the ones discussing with the government to ensure that Okuama community is rebuilt and peace is returned.
After the destruction of our Okuama community and the level at which the government has gone to restore peace, we never expected this arrest and we are having the fear of going back to our community.
The most painful aspect of it is that, we are not hearing from them, we don’t know where they are and the security are just being silent as they have not claimed to have arrested them.
“We have been suffering since March and we thought by now we may have returned to our various homes but it unfortunate, our dreams and hope of returning back home has been shattered by security agents.
Mrs Josephine Oghenehwosa who was flanked by family members of the arrested leaders appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the Nigerian army and Department of State Services to unconditionally released their leaders.
Family members of Hon Belvis Adogbo and other arrested leaders disclosed that before the arrest of their bread winner, Hon Belvis had health challenge as they revealed that on the day he was arrested,he has booked an appointment within his physician in one of the private hospitals.
How can you keep people with various health challenges from gaining access to their doctors, and family members without any justification.
“We are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians to prevail on whoever that is responsible for their arrest to release them or charge them to court. Mr Charles Adogbo pleads.
Reacting to the arrest and detention of Okuama community leaders, Mr Abraham Ogbodo, chairman, Ewu-Okuama Management committee said, “We all know the history of this tragedy, how it all started, it started with the unfortunate killing of military mene, comprising four officers and 13 rank and file and that is a crime of murder in the Nigerian system.
And the government has that responsibility to establish that crime and get the culprits and in doing that, it should be done within the armbit of the law and within what the law allows because we have a legal system.
He said, “If you want to get the criminals, get the criminals, you cannot in the process of getting the criminals, take out the community, get the bad guys, take them out and we are okay.
“But in doing that, no innocent person should suffer, people have been arrested and there is a system in this country, the criminal justice is such that, if a crime is reported, police may make arrest, investigate the matter and establish the crime, the actors, close in on them and arrest them.
The Justice system here does not allow any other agencies to keep suspects or defendants outside a court order and that is why the women here are protesting.
“We were expecting that as soon as those arrest were made, they should follow the system and take them to court with the evidence and if the court say with the weight of evidence, these people cannot be released, they have to be in custody,them so be it.
“But outside that, to keep people out of circulation, nobody knows where they are, and they are on the hunt for more persons where people can just come and make.more arrest is not the best for the people that are not used to that kind of life.”
