GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI FINALLY STEPS FOOT IN OKUAMA, The Destruction of The Community Remains Unaddressed.

Exactly a month and six days after 17 military personnel were gruesomely murdered around Okuama community, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori finally stepped foot in Okuama, yet silence echoes louder than words as the killing of innocent citizens and community's destruction remained unaddressed.

Accompanied by top government functionaries, including some members of the State House of Assembly, Governor Oborevwori led the tour of the troubled riverine town, accompanied by the Commander of the 63 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Unachukwu Ugochukwu, and the Commander of 181 Battalion, Lt Col Dabo.

However, during the tour, the governor failed to condemn the killing of innocent citizens and the extensive destruction of villagers' buildings and other properties resulting from the ugly incident.

Recall that on March 14, 2024, 17 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and a captain, were brutally killed by unknown gunmen around the community. The slain officers and soldiers were on a peace mission to Okuama over a disputed boundary with Okoloba community when they were ambushed and murdered.

The incident led to villagers fleeing the community for fear of reprisal attacks by soldiers deployed to the area by the Nigerian military. Okuama has remained inaccessible to government representatives, journalists, and others who have sought to visit the embattled community.

During his visit on Saturday, Governor Oborevwori promised to facilitate the return of indigenes who fled the community in the wake of the crisis back to their homes. He assured that innocent citizens would not be made to suffer for what they know nothing about regarding the crisis.

Governor Oborevwori stated, "We have followed due process in the whole incident. The people have been buried, and the King that was detained has been released. Today, I am here to see what happened in Okuama community."

He continued, "The Okuama 17 is something that we didn't expect to happen because it goes against our commitment to peace and security, which I promised Deltans we would enhance."

"We have been enjoying peace and security since last year until the 14th of March when the four Army officers and 13 soldiers were murdered. Their bodies were not just murdered; they were mutilated, and we have come here to see what happened."

Governor Oborevwori emphasized the importance of reintegrating the innocent people of the community with the cooperation of the military. He expressed gratitude to the President, Commander in Chief, Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff for their cooperation so far.

He concluded, "I want to assure the people of Okuama that there is no point in running away from your community. We are going to bring you back. It's only those that are involved that the military are looking for."

Credit: Niger Delta Today