Okuama: After Torturing Pa James Oghoroko To Death Nigerian Military Continues Detention Of Five Community Leaders
The Nigerian military has continued the detention of five leaders of Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State after torturing the President General of the community, Pa James Oghoroko to death.
Ibom Focus had exclusively reported on Thursday that Pa Oghoroko’s death was announced at the meeting of the community, a sad news that immediately triggered tension in the fragile community which is yet to recover from the wanton destruction of lives and property.
The troops of the Nigerian military had sacked the community in reprisal for the killing of 17 soldiers during a communal crisis.
The community leaders who were still detained by the Nigerian military since August 2024 in undisclosed facilities are; Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs Rita Akata.
Ibom Focus reports on Saturday that confusion is also already trailing the releaseof the corpse of Pa Oghoroko, as nobody in the community seems to know whether the military authorities have released the body to the family or not.
The Okuama community, had in August this year, through their lawyers filed suit No: FHC/WR/CS/84/2024 between James Oghorokor and other versus the Nigerian Army and two others “demanding N100million for their illegal detention”.
The community had earlier, on the heels of the demolition and destruction of Okuama community after the killing of 17 soldiers, approached the Federal High Court, Warri, through their lawyers led by Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN and others, to seek redress.
The community through their learned Counsel filed Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/41/2024, FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, and FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, the suits are now being consolidated.
At its last sitting on 20th November, 2024, the Federal High Court had adjourned the bail application of the arrested leaders to the 9th December, 2024 to hear the motion.
However, before the return date, one of the Claimants, Pa Oghoroko, was said to have given up the ghost on Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 in the military detention without being charged to court since their arrest in August.
Meanwhile, Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN, who is leading the community’s legal team has described the news of the PG’s death as “disturbing”, adding that he “will meet with the family members and his team to know what steps to take next”.
Nigerian Senator, Ede Dafinone, had earlier condemned the death of Pa James Oghoroko, President-General of Okuama community, who died in military detention on December 4, 2024.
Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, in a media statement on Saturday, demanded the immediate release of five other community leaders detained since August, including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs Rita Akata.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Pa James Achovwuko Oghoroko, President-General of the Okuama community, who died in military custody under distressing circumstances,” the statement had read.
Criticising the military’s handling of the detainees, the lawmaker said that Pa Oghoroko was a respected leader, who was dedicated to the progress and unity of Okuama.
He maintained that the continued detention of the remaining five leaders of the community without trial undermines the rule of law and violates fundamental human rights in Nigeria.
According to him, “His demise is a painful loss to his family, the Okuama people, and Delta Central as a whole. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and the entire Okuama community during this difficult time. May God grant them the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.”
He demanded that the detainees be charged to court if allegations against them exist.
“The current posture of the military authorities, where they have assumed the position of prosecutor and the judge in their case, doesn’t speak well for Nigeria’s democracy,” Dafinone said.
