Nigerian soldiers

The World Council of Urhobo Professors has written a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to intervene in the matter between the Okuama Community in Delta State and the Nigerian Army.

In March, 2024, the Nigerian Army invaded the peaceful Okuama Community of Urhobo in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, Nigeria. The Army said the invaders were on a “peace mission” connected with a land dispute between Okuama Community of Urhobo and Okoloba Community of Ijaw, both of Delta State. During the “peace mission” the Army lost 17 of its personnel. The gruesome killing of the soldiers was condemned by many across the world, including prominent persons in Urhoboland.

The Army explained further that the suspected killers of the soldiers were “illegal oil bunkerers”, that the Army knew the “leader” of the “illegal bunkerers”, assuring that the Army would go after him.

In August, 2024, the Professors wrote that the Army arrested more leaders of Okuama and Eghwu Kingdom and held them hostage in undisclosed military camps. Among the arrested leaders is Professor Arthur Ekpekpo of Delta State University, Abraka, the President of Eghwu Clan Development Union. Others arrested are Pa James Oghoroko, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Belvis Adogbo, Madam Mabel Owhemu, and Dennis Malaka. These Okuama captives have not been charged to any court of law

In early December, it was reported that Pa James Oghoroko (about 80 years) died in the military detention camp in Port Harcourt. The Army is yet to disclose the cause of Pa James Oghoroko’s death.

As the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Your Excellency, as the Professors wrote, directed: “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.” It is now about 9 (nine) months, yet the Okuama Community is still being terrorised by the Army.

The Professors, therefore, wanted the President to see to:

1. The immediate and unconditional release of all Okuama people detained by the Army in connection with the matter or charge them to a court of competent jurisdiction for adjudication.
2. Set up an independent body to probe the death of Pa James Oghoroko in the military detention camp in Port Harcourt
3. Institute a Commission of Inquiry on the Okuama Tragedy to determine its remote and immediate causes, persons and interests involved, and appropriate compensation for the victims of the military terror. The Inquiry will identify those who ordered the tragic “peace mission”, its purpose and objectives, how it was conducted and why it failed; and the link between the sponsors of the “mission” and the land dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities. The Commission will also unravel why the Army has focused attacks and terrorism on only the Urhobo Community of Okuama whilst Okoloba is apparently at peace. The outcome of the Commission of Inquiry will signal the restoration of peace and justice to Okuama and the western Niger Delta region.

Below is the Professors’ full letter:

WORLD COUNCIL OF URHOBO PROFESSORS

c/o Delta State University Abraka

18^th December 2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

The Presidency,

Abuja

STOP ARMY ACTS OF TERROR AGAINST OKUAMA COMMUNITY OF DELTA STATE

In March, 2024, the Nigerian Army invaded the peaceful Okuama Community of Urhobo in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, Nigeria. The Army said the invaders were on a “peace mission” connected with a land dispute between Okuama Community of Urhobo and Okoloba Community of Ijaw, both of Delta State. During the “peace mission” the Army lost 17 of its personnel. The gruesome killing of the soldiers was condemned by many across the world, including prominent persons in Urhoboland.

The Army explained further that the suspected killers of the soldiers were “illegal oil bunkerers”, that the Army knew the “leader” of the “illegal bunkerers”, assuring that the Army would go after him.

As the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Your Excellency directed that: “The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.” It is now about 9 (nine) months, yet the Okuama Community is still being terrorised by the Army.

For example,

1. The Army demolished all buildings, homes, and property in Okuama, chased out and turned the people into refugees in wild bushes for weeks. These violent acts also destroyed the people’s means of livelihood as well as their ancestral and cultural heritage;
2. The Army went ahead to declare leaders of Okuama wanted and eventually detained the Traditional Ruler (Ovie) of Eghwu Kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo and subjected him to weeks of mental torture in Abuja. The King was released following the effort of Senator Ede Dafinone and other Delta patriots;
3. In August, 2024, the Army arrested more leaders of Okuama and Eghwu Kingdom and held them hostage in undisclosed military camps. Among the arrested leaders is Professor Arthur Ekpekpo of Delta State University, Abraka, the President of Eghwu Clan Development Union. Others arrested are Pa James Oghoroko, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Belvis Adogbo, Madam Mabel Owhemu, and Dennis Malaka. These Okuama captives have not been charged to any court of law
4. In early December, it was reported that Pa James Oghoroko (about 80 years) died in the military detention camp in Port Harcourt. The Army is yet to disclose the cause of Pa James Oghoroko’s death.

VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS

The Army’s acts of terror against the Okuama Community have violated the fundamental rights of the people as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution. For example:

Section 17 (1b) “sanctity of the human person” and Sections 33 (right to life), 34 (right to dignity of the human person 35 (right to personal liberty), and 42 (right to freedom from discrimination). All the Army atrocities against Okuama Community also contravene the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations.

TROUBLING QUESTIONS:

We note that Your Excellency took prompt action to accord befitting funeral rites for the dead military personnel, including material compensation for their families. Why has similar retribution not been extended to casualties and victims of Okuama Community? Who authorised the “peace mission” to Okuama? Which security report prompted the disastrous mission? How and why was the mission conducted without the knowledge of the Delta State Governor and Chairmen of the affected Local government councils? The Urhobo people are major contributors to the economy and security of Nigeria. Why should the Federal Government under your watch permit such acts of terrorism and genocide to be perpetuated against our peace-loving people? In March, Your Excellency ordered the “Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.” Why has your presidential directive been flouted by the Army nearly nine months after? The victimised people of Okuama, the Urhobo Nation, Nigerians, and the world at large seek urgent and satisfactory answers to these troubling questions.

We recall the efforts made by others to mitigate the effect of the Okuama Tragedy. We commend, in particular, the initiatives of the Delta State Government to ameliorate the situation by setting up the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Eghwu Town. More can still be done.

We further note the humanitarian assistance rendered thus far by other leaders and organisations. Among them are Senator Ede Dafinone representing the Delta Central Senatorial District; the Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council led by HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom as well as various Urhobo religious and socio-cultural groups in Nigeria and the Diaspora. Mr. President should be aware that these voluntary interventions cannot bring peace and justice to Okuama. Therefore, Your Excellency must take full responsibility as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and take action along the lines proposed below:

1. Immediate and unconditional release of all Okuama people detained by the Army in connection with the matter or charge them to a court of competent jurisdiction for adjudication.
2. Set up an independent body to probe the death of Pa James Oghoroko in the military detention camp in Port Harcourt
3. Institute a Commission of Inquiry on the Okuama Tragedy to determine its remote and immediate causes, persons and interests involved, and appropriate compensation for the victims of the military terror. The Inquiry will identify those who ordered the tragic “peace mission”, its purpose and objectives, how it was conducted and why it failed; and the link between the sponsors of the “mission” and the land dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities. The Commission will also unravel why the Army has focused attacks and terrorism on only the Urhobo Community of Okuama whilst Okoloba is apparently at peace. The outcome of the Commission of Inquiry will signal the restoration of peace and justice to Okuama and the western Niger Delta region.

Signed:

Cc:

The President, the Nigerian Senate

The Speaker, The Federal House of Representatives

Headquarters, The Nigerian Army, Abuja

Chairman, National Commission for Human Rights

The President,

ECOWAS Parliament

Abuja

The Secretary-General

The African Union

Addis Ababa

The President,

International Criminal Court

The Hague

The Secretary-General

The United Nations Organisation

The President-General

Urhobo Progress Union