Weeks after arresting Okuama community leaders in Delta State, armed men in military fatigue on Monday morning stormed the community in four gunboats, 11 speedboats, shot indiscriminately in their numbers, killed three youths and looted provision stores.
The invaders also towed away a large granite canoe, a sand dredger and generating sets used by the returning villagers.
A community youth who spoke after returning from his hideout recounted that the military personnel came in four gunboats, 11 speedboats shooting sporadically.
That thereafter they came on land through Okoloba community after earlier using drones to monitor the community on Sunday.
Three youths were reportedly killed by the soldiers namely Ojeh Asah, Uwhubunor James, and Enavwodo Peter.
According to our source, “This morning at about 3am, we got the information that about 15 gun boats are coming to our area and we all came out to observe, and we were awake from that time to about 6am.
“As the day breaks we suddenly saw a drone probably taking video clips of the entire community. We were afraid and some women were running into the creek for safety, they called to inform us that 3 gunboats are in the river.
“And the next thing we heard were gun shots by the military and we all have to run into the bush. Before we came out from the bush, the army packed away every items in the provisions stores in the community and destroyed our garri.
“They took our generators Pos Machine and pumping machine. The dredger that is currently working in the community, they took it along. They also went away with the granite boat that came to the community.
“What we saw was that they were putting on military uniforms and red color camouflage. They came with about four gun boat and 11 Speed boats and they destroyed houses. The garri we were processing at the premises of the Anglican Church were all destroyed,” he added.
Okuama community was razed in March 2024 by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in a reprisal attack following the murder of 17 military personnel by unknown gunmen near the community.
Every building including hospital, schools and other private buildings in the community were uprooted and reduced to rubbles.
Weeks ago, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mr. James Oghoroko, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Awhemuria and Mrs. Rita Akpata were arrested by military officials between 18 to 20th August and have remained in unknown detentions.
The Okuama people frustrated by the arrests instituted two fundamental rights in Federal High Court Warri in Suit No:FHC/WR/CS/84/2024 between James Oghorokor and the Nigerian Army and two others; Suit NO:FHC/WR/85/2024 between Dennis Okugbaye and the Nigerian Army and two others. They are claiming N200m for illegal detentions without trials. – Vanguard.
