Okuama-Ewu: Over 12 residents trapped in forests die of hunger, sickness

ASABA— More than 12 residents of Okuama-Ewu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, trapped in the forests since last month, in the aftermath of troops’ invasion of the riverine settlement over the killing of 17 military officers and men have died of starvation, ill health, and snake bites.

This came on a day human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, wrote the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the transfer of investigation of the incident in the community to the Police.

This is even as the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday inaugurated an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, management committee to resettle and rehabilitate the displaced villagers.A former editor of The Guardian Newspapers and an Urhobo leader, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, leads the IDP management committee as Chairman; the Director of Personnel Management, DPM, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Chief Austin Emaduku, will serve as Secretary.Other members include former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Festus Utuama, Reuben Izeze, Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Dr. Richard Kofi, Chief Oviri Uto, Josephine Oduaran, Obukohwo Henry Ediyo, Karo Ovemeso, and Austin Ohwofaria, who is the camp commandant.

Innocent people should not suffer needlessly —OborevworiSpeaking at the committee’s inauguration at Government House, Asaba, yesterday, Governor Oborevwori said: “I welcome all of you to the inauguration of a committee, charged with the duty of planning and coordinating the settlement and rehabilitation of our people at Okuama.“Much as we condemn in strong terms the dastardly act that took the lives of our gallant officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, we will do everything we can to reduce to the barest minimum the attendant effects on the common man in the Okuama community.“Innocent people have been displaced, their homes and properties destroyed; this was, and still is an unfortunate and unexpected development.“Like I said when I visited Okuama the other day, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the military agreed that innocent people in Okuama should not be made to suffer needlessly.

“This is why we sincerely believe that soon the innocent will return to their homes. It is now right for the government to set up a committee to plan their resettlement and rehabilitation ahead of their return.