Key Urhobo stakeholders in Delta State and the diaspora are actively engaging with the Nigerian military authorities to secure the release of Ewu-Okuama community leaders who have been in military custody for almost a year.
The senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, disclosed this while speaking on a radio programme monitored in Warri, on Saturday.
He decried the continued detention of the Okuama leaders “without formal charges for about a year.”
He reiterated calls by prominent Urhobos for the unconditional release of the detained community leaders, or for them to be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction for trial.
Their detention followed the killing of 17 soldiers reportedly on a peace mission to the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area in early 2024.
The leaders, including Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Mr Julius Oghoroko, Mr Bernard Esegba, the President General of the Okuama Community, Pa James Oghoroko, treasurer, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs Rita Akata, were arrested over the incident by the military between August 18 and 20, 2024, and have since been detained.
Dafinone said, “Efforts to secure the release of our people currently in captivity have been ongoing.
“This is not just the work of my office, but also of several senior figures in Delta State, including some abroad-based Urhobo leaders who are committed to ensuring that these individuals are either released or formally charged in an open court.
“The matter remains a top priority. The families are in constant touch with me, and we are guiding them in their approaches while they, in turn, lend support to ours.
“I can confirm that my office is in regular contact with both the Nigerian Army and the justice system to find ways of resolving the situation. Our goal is simple: to secure the release of our people from detention.”
He lamented that one of the detainees died in custody as he called on the military authorities to release his body to the family for proper burial.
The President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died from torture on December 5, 2024.
“Tragically, one of the detainees has died while in custody.
“We are pressing the authorities to release his body to his family so he can be given a proper burial.
“This matter is actively on the table, and we are exploring every possible avenue to bring the remaining detainees home,” he said.
He said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other prominent Urhobo leaders were pulling their weight on the matter to ensure the release of the community leaders.
“My recent discussions on this matter have focused on ensuring that we do not allow the anniversary to pass without resolution. No one should be held for a year without trial or formal charges.
“Our governor and other prominent Urhobo leaders are pulling their weight on this matter.
“We are not sleeping over the plight of our Okuama brothers held in military custody for over a year now.
“But this is not a matter to be used for politics or to score cheap political points, as some would like. We are talking about human lives — our brothers,” he said.
