Residents of Okuama community in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the plight of their leaders who have spent one year in military custody without trial.
The leaders Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr. Dennis Okugbaye, Mr. Dennis Amalaka, and Mrs. Mabel Owhemu were arrested in August 2024 following the killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission to the community on March 14, 2024. One of the detainees, 70-year-old Mr. James Oghoroko, reportedly died in custody while awaiting trial.
At a press conference in Okuama on Monday, convened by Human Rights Advocate and Chairman of the Citizens Right Concern Enhancement Initiative (CRCEI), Comrade Edewor Egedegbe, villagers condemned what they described as the “flagrant violation” of their leaders’ fundamental rights.
“The continued incarceration of our leaders without trial mocks Nigeria’s democracy and ridicules the rule of law,” the community declared. “The Nigerian Army has continued to act in gross disregard of constitutional provisions that guarantee the dignity of the human person and the right to a fair hearing.”
The residents alleged that the detainees have been denied access to medical care, legal representation, and visits from their families since their arrest between August 18 and 19, 2024.
They also faulted the military’s handling of investigations into the Okuama killings outside Nigeria’s criminal justice system, describing it as incompatible with democratic principles.
The community called on President Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Senator Ede Dafinone to intervene in the matter, insisting that “there is no prima facie evidence in the possession of the military to justify the continued detention of our leaders.”
While acknowledging the gravity of the killing of 17 soldiers along the Forcados River, Okuama residents stressed that justice must be applied fairly. “Justice must serve both the slain servicemen and the wrongly detained villagers,” they stated.
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