Okuama Residents Decry Abandonment, Demand Justice for Detained Leaders

Okuama, once a bustling riverside community, was destroyed in March 2024 following the killing of 17 military personnel in the aftermath of a clash between Okuama and a neighbouring community. In a reprisal operation, security agents levelled all houses in Okuama except the Anglican Church where soldiers took shelter. Two years later, the community is still in ruins.

Residents now live in shanty tents and makeshift shelters where their homes once stood. Last Wednesday, they staged a protest march over the continued detention of their leaders and appealed to Nigerians to intervene in their plight. They vowed there would be no elections in their area if their leaders are not released or charged to court.

When Vanguard visited this week, residents described severe hardship. Community Chairman Mr Vote Johnwalker said leaders including Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adugbo, and others were arrested in August 2024 and have not been arraigned or released. “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,” he said. While the state government built a health centre and schools, none are functioning due to lack of staff and furniture.

Other residents echoed the distress. Mr Joseph Oberiko noted that one detainee, James Oghoroko, died in custody, and a Federal High Court order in Warri directing that the detained leaders be brought to court has allegedly been ignored. Mr Frank Oghoghorie said Pa Dennis Okugbaye was released in critical condition after detention and remains hospitalized. “We live with reptiles in a dangerous condition. No bed, no food, no toilet, no drinking water. We bathe and drink from the same river,” he said.

Mrs Maria Adam recounted how a storm last Tuesday caused a tree to fall on her and her five children, killing one. “I lost that child because of lack of medicare. The suffering is too much,” she said. Former Woman Leader Queen Oghenehwosa added that schools built by the government have no desks and the health centre has no nurses. “Are we really part of Nigeria?” she asked.

Human rights advocate Frank Tietie, Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights, called the detentions a “flagrant violation” of constitutional rights to liberty and fair hearing. He urged President Bola Tinubu, the military, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Niger Delta leaders to ensure the detainees are released or promptly charged. “If there is credible evidence linking any of these detainees to the tragic killing of soldiers, then the proper course is simple: Charge them to court. Anything short of this is not justice but clear arbitrariness,” he said

Residents insist they are innocent of the killings, citing a past interview in which the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said soldiers were killed by bunkerers. They are demanding that government rebuild their homes, restore schools and healthcare, and uphold the rule of law.