It was not a beautiful reality to narrate as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, on Saturday, visited Okuama-Ewu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State.CONTINUE READING>>>>>
What was seen was terrifying as the embattled community was in complete ruins with debris of demolished buildings scattered everywhere.
According to reports, only the Anglican Church among a few others buildings were spared by the men of the Nigerian Army who have laid siege to the community.
It was even learnt that it was the soldiers that temporarily live in the houses left standing.
On March 14, 17 military personnel comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 13 soldiers were killed while on a peacekeeping mission” in the Okuama community.
Following the incident, troops of the Nigerian Army have taken over the community with stringent search operation.
Meanwhile, reliable reports indicated that unspecified number of innocent residents have been killed.
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It was learnt that the Army pulled down the homes of the villagers, who fled the community after the March 14 killings.
According to reports, Okuama-Ewu was desolate and gradually being overtaken by weeds, and there was no single villager to welcome the governor yesterday.
The governor’s visit to Okuama-Ewu came after the Army denied him access to the community on March 18.
The Army has equally denied the residents of Okuama still taking cover in the forest and other hideouts access to their homeland.
Soldiers conducting a cordon-and-search operation were the only human beings occupying the community when the governor visited.
While speaking, Governor Oborevwori said he came to see what happened in Okuama-Ewu and work out how to reintegrate the innocent people back to the community with the cooperation of the military.
He, however, assured that his administration was doing a lot to resolve the dispute, saying residents of Okuama would soon return home.
In his words, “We have followed due process in the whole incident. The people (17 soldiers) have been buried and the king who was detained was released yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) I am here to see what happened in the Okuama community.
“The Okuama-17 is something that we did not expect to happen because it is against our bargain for peace and security which, I promised Deltans, that we are going to enhance.
“We have been enjoying peace and security since last year until the 14th of March when the four army officers and 13 soldiers were murdered.
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“They were not just murdered, their bodies were mutilated and we have come here to see what happened.
“Let me again reiterate Mr President’s promise that no innocent person would be victimised and you can see that, from that time till now, there has been no harassment of citizens of this community.
“I have come to see how the innocent people of this community can be reintegrated back with the cooperation of the military.
“We know it is a big loss to them, but we have to follow due process. The Brigade Commander is with us and the newly – posted Commander of 181 Battalion, Lt Col Dabo, is also here with us, and it is a great synergy.”
Reiterating that citizens of Okuama would soon return home, Oborevwori said: “Let me once again thank Mr President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Army Staff, and the Chief of the Defence Staff for their cooperation so far.
“They have been very supportive and they have kept to their promise that innocent people will not be victimised.
“I want to assure the people of Okuama that there is no point running away from your community.
“We are going to bring you back to your community. It is only those that are involved the military are looking for.’’CONTINUE READING>>>>>
