Okuama: Allow innocent residents to return home, Delta monarchs tell FG

Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, known as Ukokor Ivie r Urhobo appealed to the federal government to allow the long-suffering innocent aged people and children of the Okuama community to return to their ancestral home.

The appeal came after the council met with representatives of Okuama’s neighbouring communities of Ewu, Okparabe, and Arhavwarien who said they had not been able to sleep with their eyes closed since the killing of soldiers and civilians at Okuama.

The representatives of the three communities had led a save-our-soul visit to the palace of the monarch of Uvwie kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso Abe 1, who is the Chairman of the council. Three other monarchs from Agbarha-Otor, Oghara, and Idjerhe Kingdoms also attended the meeting.

They expressed worry that the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom was declared wanted by the Nigerian Army and is still being held despite surrendering himself to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, and the handover to the Nigerian Army authorities. They said they believed the detained monarch innocent and played no role in the Okuama/Okoloba crisis.

The representatives of the three communities narrated how they suffered attacks. arson, deaths by the people of Okuama community and neighbouring communities, adding they could no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe 1, and the representatives of Ewu, Okparabe and Arhavwarien namely Chief Vincent Oduaran JP, Chief Sam Oborumuyere and Prince Solomon Diodemise, Otota of Okparebe Kingdom respectively, they demanded the setting up of an Independent investigative enquiry into the immediate and remote causes of the Okuama-military incident to avoid future occurrence.

That the good people of Ewu Kingdom should remain calm and law-abiding as the council will ensure that no innocent person suffers unjustly.

The Council commiserated with families of the slain soldiers and the Nigerian Army.

The monarchs said they are deeply touched by the pains suffered by innocent citizens of Okuama and neighboring communities and commensurate with the families of those who lost their loved ones.

The Council appealed to the federal government to allow the Okuama people to return to their ancestral home to reduce the suffering of the innocent aged people and children.