The Okuama community in Delta State’s Ughelli South Local Government Area has been plunged into grief after the community President General, Pa James Achovwuko Oghoroko, one of the community leaders imprisoned by the Nigerian military since August 2024, was reported to have died in detention.
On Wednesday, Pa Oghoroko died in military custody “following torture and alleged inhumane treatment.”
The sad news of Pa Oghoroko’s death was revealed by Okuama leaders at an emergency meeting held on Thursday in the community, where it was also revealed that another Okuama leader in the military detention, “Pa Dennis Okugbaye, is presently battling with a life-threatening ailment in the undisclosed military facility.”
Meanwhile, the tragic news of Okuama community President General has plunged the entire Okuama community into despair and mourning.
Angry community youths were observed sporting long faces while discussing the disaster.
It should be noted that Pa Oghoroko, the President General of the Okuama community, was arrested between August 18 and 20, 2024, together with Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs. Rita Akata, and has remained in unknown imprisonment since.
The arrest came after the shooting of 17 military officers on a peace mission in the village on March 14, 2024.
The community filed a complaint in August, designated FHC/WR/CS/84/2024, to dispute the community’s imprisonment, asking for N100 million “for their illegal detention.”.
Following the demolition and destruction of the Okuama community following the deaths of 17 soldiers, the community moved the Federal High Court in Warri through their lawyers, led by Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN) and others, to demand restitution.
The community, through its lawyer, filed Suits Nos. FHC/WR/CS/41/2024, FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, and FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, which were later combined.
At its most recent sitting on November 20, 2024, the Federal High Court deferred the jailed leaders’ bail application until December 9, 2024.
At its most recent sitting on November 20, 2024, the Federal High Court deferred the jailed leaders’ bail application until December 9, 2024.
However, before the return date, one of the claimants, Pa Oghoroko, was alleged to have died on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in military captivity after being arrested in August without being tried in court.
In response to the death of Oghoroko, the lead lawyer, Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN), observed, “It is disturbing news.”
Akpomudje said he “will meet with the family members and his team to know what steps to take next.”
Meanwhile, the community has addressed a Save-Our-Soul letter to President Bola Tinubu, asking for the immediate release of the remaining community leaders in military captivity.
The community leaders accused the Army of wrongful arrest, inhumane treatment, and failure to follow proper legal process.
They contended that even if the detainees were suspected of involvement in the March 2024 killings of military soldiers, they should be turned over to the police or tried in court.
“The Army has kept them incommunicado in its custody without any charge brought against them to date.
“The continuous incarceration of Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Hon. Chief Belvis Adogbo, and other respected members of the Okuama community for over 100 days is a clear violation of their fundamental human rights.
“In view of the above, we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to call the chief of army staff to take further action towards the freedom of the oppressed—they are innocent of the suspicion of complicity in the March 14, 2024, massacre of military personnel in Okuama on the strength of the Nigerian Army, which has decided to make them pay for a crime they know nothing about. They remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We also call on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the army to release our innocent brothers and sisters from captivity after over 100 days without trial; enough is enough,” Okuama community said in the letter.
