Anger is welling up in the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, as news filtered in that the community’s 81-year-old treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, has d!ed in military detention.
The sad news comes barely six days after the community’s President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly passed away in the same military detention.
The latest death was allegedly announced tearfully by the son of the deceased, Pastor Akpos Okugbaye, on Tuesday, throwing the community into anger and tension.
It would be recalled that Pas Oghroko and Okugbaye were picked up by the military between August 18 and 20, 2024.
Others arrested with them are Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka.
The army picked up the men following the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.
The death of the soldiers was immediately visited by a violent raid on Okuama by rampaging soldiers.
Able-bodied members of the community fled to an internally displaced persons camp in Ewu Kingdom, established by the Delta State government.
Okuama youths and women have now renewed their seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the military to facilitate the immediate release of the remaining leaders.
They are also calling for the release of the corpses of the deceased.
