The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye, while in Army custody.
Oghoroko, the President-General of the Okuama community, and 81-year-old Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer reportedly died six days apart after being detained by the military.
The duo along with four others — Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka — were arrested during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024.
The arrests followed the killing of 17 soldiers on March 14, 2024, during a peace mission aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.
The death of the two community leaders has reignited community protests.
The military had responded to the soldiers’ deaths with a violent raid on Okuama, reducing the town to ruins and forcing residents to flee to an internally displaced persons camp in Ewu Kingdom, established by the Delta State government.
READ ALSO: Fear, anger as Okuama Community grapples with loss of two leaders in military detention
Speaking on the matter for the first time, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau stated that the Chief of Defence Staff had directed the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army to investigate the allegations and submit a report by Monday.
Gusau who stated this during the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee end-of-year briefing, noted that “Regarding allegations of deaths in detention over the weekend, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died.
“Immediately, the CDS directed an investigation to be conducted by the 6 Division. Any moment from now, we expect the findings on whether the claims are true or not. For now, these remain allegations.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth, and by tomorrow, we will have more details.”
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