By Nurat Uthman
The Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, is gripped with fear and anger following the death of its 81-year-old treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, in military detention.
Okugbaye’s demise comes barely six days after the community’s President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died in similar circumstances in military detention.
Pastor Akpos Okugbaye, the son of the late community treasurer, tearfully announced his father’s passing on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the already mourning community.
Both leaders, alongside others including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka, were arrested by the military between August 18 and 20, 2024.
The arrests followed the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighboring Okoloba community.
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.
The death of Pa Okugbaye has reignited community protests.
Aggrieved Okuama youths and women, on Tuesday, renewed their seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the military, demanding the release of all detained leaders and the return of Pa Oghoroko’s corpse.
“After the seven days, this river will be blocked. Let the soldiers and Tinubu come and kill us so that we know Okuama is wiped out entirely,” protesters declared on Sunday.
Elder Ohwotake Otiero, speaking on behalf of the protesters, condemned the deaths in detention and called for immediate action:
“We want the corpse and those detained to be released immediately. We will take the laws into our hands because we have been pushed to the wall. Why should our P-G be killed through torture?”
