CDS orders probe into deaths of Okuama leaders in military detention

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has directed the military to probe the deaths of Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye, the two leaders of Okuama, who died in Army detention.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, announced this during the CDS during the strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee end-of-year briefing.

“Regarding allegations of deaths in detention over the weekend, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died,” Gusau said.

“Immediately, the CDS directed an investigation to be conducted by the 6 Division. Any moment from now, we expect the findings on whether the claims are true or not. For now, these remain allegations.

READ ALSO: Okuama residents threaten protest after second leader dies in military detention

“We are committed to uncovering the truth, and by tomorrow, we will have more details.”
Okugbaye and Ogboroko were arrested alongside Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka after August following the killing of 17 soldiers in the community.

The soldiers were deployed to Okuama to restore peace to Okuama and Okoloba, two warring communities in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State
Ogboroko and Okugbaye died 6 days apart in a military facility. These deaths threw the community into mourning, and residents threatened to protest