Human rights advocate and attorney Liborous Oshoma has asserted that politicians are afraid to discuss the issues facing the Okuama community in Delta State’s Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The Okuama community has the right to sue the federal government in court over the alleged killing of people and burning of houses in the village, he said, adding that what politicians say in private differs from what they say in public.
There have been claims from some sources that following the killing of the 17 soldiers in Okuama, the military had stormed the community and burnt down houses and killed several persons.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, Oshoma said that the military should allow the police to conduct investigation into the matter and not give room to speculation.
Oshoma said that when the military consistently begins to get involved in civil activities, this kind of crisis is bound to arise, and because of that, the reputation of the military would be affected.
He said that even though the culprits that killed the soldiers are arrested, there are laws in Nigeria that guide how an accused person must be prosecuted.
Oshoma said that in the search for the culprits, there should be systematic and strategic approach to it. He said that he does not think that the military alone should be carrying out the search. He said that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police should also be involved.
He said, “The idea of shutting down the entire village and not allowing access into it, even the governor cannot access that community, nobody can access the community, it will give room for rumours and hearsay.
“You have identified that the man that is involved is General Amagbein. Yes, allow others who have their lawful duties to go about their normal activities instead of just shutting down the entire village.”
When asked if the community can go to court, Oshoma said, “Yes, the community can go to court on this because it’s like the politicians, the political class, are scared to talk or speak out. What they say in private is different from what they say in public. The community can actually access the court.”
