Nigerian Army Keeps Mum As Okuama Community Leaders Die In Detention

The Nigerian Army has failed to confirm or issue any statement regarding the death of two leaders from the Okuama community in Delta State.

Naija News reported that Okuama’s President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, and the 81-year-old community’s treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, died in army custody within six days intervals.

The military detained Oghoroko and Okugbaye alongside four others, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Belvis Adogbo, Mabel Owhemu, and Dennis Malaka, during a military operation between August 18 and 20, 2024.

The arrests occurred months after 17 soldiers on a peace mission to resolve a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community were killed on March 14, 2024.

The deaths of the two leaders in military detention have triggered outrage within Okuama, as youths and women in the community had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to release the detained leaders and return Pa Oghoroko’s body.

The ultimatum shows the anger and grief of the community, which accuses the military of violating the rights of their leaders.

According to Punch, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, directed inquiries to the Army Headquarters when contacted for details of the leaders’ demise.

He said, “Kindly channel this question to the spokespersons for the army, please.”