Over the weekend, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, paid a visit to the Okuama community in the Ewu Kingdom, situated in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state. This community recently saw the tragic killings of 17 military officers and soldiers who were on a peacekeeping mission.
During his visit, Governor Oborevwori reassured the residents who had fled the community during the crisis that it was safe for them to return. He emphasized that innocent individuals should not suffer for events they were not involved in.
This marked Oborevwori’s inaugural visit to the troubled Okuama community, following a previous incident where he was reportedly denied access by the military.
Reports indicate that the Governor and his delegation embarked on a boat journey from the jetty of the Nigerian Port Authority in Warri on Saturday morning.
Accompanying the Governor were key members of his administration and top officials from various security agencies in the state.
The Governor’s visit to the community was facilitated by the military Joint Task Force.
It was noted that the Okuama community had been under military control since the tragic events of March 14, where both soldiers and civilians lost their lives.
Earlier, Oborevwori had mentioned during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu that his delay in visiting the community was due to the evacuation of residents following the military operation in the area.
On March 14, 17 military personnel, including high-ranking officers, were ambushed and killed near Okuama while attempting to resolve a land dispute between Okuama, an Urhobo community, and Okoloba, an Ijaw community.
Following the incident, the Nigerian military declared eight individuals, including the traditional ruler of the Ewu Kingdom, wanted in connection to the killings. The Ewu monarch eventually surrendered to the police and later to the military for questioning.
After being detained in Abuja for three weeks, the traditional ruler was released and handed over to Senator Ede Dafinone of Delta Central Senatorial District.
Upon his release, the monarch expressed gratitude to the Senators from Delta State for their efforts in securing his freedom.
He specifically thanked Senator Ned Nwoko for visiting him during his detention and intervening on his behalf with the military authorities.
Senator Nwoko commended the collaborative efforts that led to the monarch’s release and encouraged him to remain resilient in the face of adversity.
More details to follow as the situation unfolds…