In a recent development in Delta State, the Okuama-Ewu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area has countered accusations that they were responsible for the deaths of 17 military personnel.
According to the community, the soldiers lost their lives not in the village but along the Forcados River while on their way back to their military base in Bomadi.
This assertion came from Mr. Bernard Esegba, Secretary-General of the community, as part of a supporting affidavit in a lawsuit filed against the Federal Government and various defense entities at the Federal High Court in Warri. The N151 billion lawsuit cites violations of fundamental human rights connected to the incident and involves notable figures including Professor Arthur Ekpekpo, leader of the Ewu Clan Development Forum, who has been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters.
The affidavit details that on March 14, 2024, the military personnel were warmly received in Okuama-Ewu and participated in a traditional ceremony. However, tensions escalated when the military attempted to forcibly take community leaders to their base, leading to a chaotic situation where the military fired shots, resulting in casualties among the community leaders.
The statement emphasizes that the soldiers were not attacked by community members but met their tragic fate after leaving the town in a tense atmosphere. The community of Okuama-Ewu is now seeking legal redress to clear its name and address the grievances related to the incident and its aftermath.
