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By Lovely Eseoghene Onohwakpor
Okuama Community Appeals to President Tinubu for Release of Detained Leaders Held Without Trial for One Year
Residents of Okuama in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, Delta State, have urgently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the prolonged detention of six community leaders held by the Nigerian Army for over a year without trial, following their arrest linked to the killing of 17 military personnel on a peace mission last year.
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Residents of Okuama community in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have made a heartfelt plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the case of their detained leaders, who have spent a full year in military custody without being granted trial.
The six leaders—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr. James Oghoroko (now deceased), Mr. Dennis Okugbaye, Mr. Dennis Amalaka, and Mrs. Mabel Owhemu—were arrested between August 18 and 19, 2024. Their detention followed the tragic killing of 17 officers and soldiers who were on a peace mission to the community on March 14, 2024.
At a press conference held in Okuama on Monday, convened by Human Rights Advocate and Chairman of Citizens Right Concern Enhancement Initiative (CRCEI), Comrade Edewor Egedegbe, villagers condemned what they described as a “flagrant violation” of their leaders’ fundamental rights by the Nigerian Army.
The community accused the military of denying the detainees access to medical care, legal representation, and family visits. They decried the detention without trial as a mockery of Nigeria’s democratic values and the rule of law. “The Nigerian Army has acted in gross disregard of constitutional guarantees protecting human dignity and the right to a fair hearing,” the community declared.
The situation worsened with the death of one detainee, Pa. James Oghoroko, while still in custody and awaiting trial, raising serious concerns about the wellbeing of the remaining detainees.
Residents further criticized the military’s approach of conducting investigations outside the established criminal justice system, calling it incompatible with democratic principles.
Appealing directly to President Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Senator Ede Dafinone, the community insisted that there is no prima facie evidence justifying the continued detention of their leaders.
The Okuama people also demanded a thorough, transparent investigation into the killing of the 17 soldiers along the Forcados River, emphasizing that justice must be served for both the slain servicemen and the detained villagers alike.
