The Nigerian Army is under scrutiny following the deaths of two prominent leaders from the Okuama community in Delta State while in military custody. Pa James Oghoroko, the President-General of Okuama, and Dennis Okugbaye, the community’s 81-year-old treasurer, both died within six days of one another.
Their detention occurred alongside four others during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024. This comes in the wake of a tragic incident on March 14, 2024, when 17 soldiers were killed while trying to mediate a dispute between the Okuama and neighboring Okoloba communities.
The unexpected deaths of Oghoroko and Okugbaye have sparked significant outrage in Okuama. Community members, including both youths and women, have united to issue a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army. They demand the release of the detained leaders and the return of Oghoroko’s remains, indicating heightened tensions and accusations of human rights violations against the military.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from military authorities regarding the leaders’ deaths have proven unsuccessful. When approached for comments, the Director of Defence Media Operations directed inquiries to the Army Headquarters, stating, “Kindly channel this question to the spokespersons for the army, please.”
As of the latest updates, calls to the Director of Army Public Relations have gone unanswered, leaving the community and the public seeking clarity amidst grave concerns.
