A member of the World Council of Urhobo Professors, Prof. Sunny Ahwefeada, says they have found it confusing that after one year, those responsible for killing 17 army personnel in Okuma in Delta State are yet to be found by the security operatives.

Ahwefeada, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, said that identifying those behind the heinous crime and bringing them to book will go a long way in bringing closure to the case.

“We are all confused that one year after, the intelligence community has not been able to make any headway in identifying the real perpetrators of this and bringing them to book, it is quite unfortunate,” Ahwefeada said.

“And I should put it on record here that identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to book is a step towards closure. So, we are waiting and hopeful that someday the intelligence community will be able to do the needful so that we can actually know those behind that heinous crime.”

The military had taken over the community after 17 Army personnel were gruesomely killed on the 14th of March 2024 in the riverine community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, causing many residents to flee into the creeks and other neighboring communities.

Soldiers killed in Okuama, Delta State

The 17 personnel — the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 12 personnel of the battalion — were later buried at the Military Cemetary in Abuja.

Detention of Okuama Leaders

Speaking further on the programme, the Urhobo leader lamented that the Okuama community leaders arrested in the aftermath of the incident are still languishing in detention after months of arrest.

He regretted the death of one of the community leaders in military detention and appealed for the release of the remaining detainees.

“These people that were arrested, even if they are considered suspects, should be handed over to the police and be charged to court. So, as far as we are concerned, in as much as they have not been convicted, they are still innocent, and we feel that they have been held for too long.

“They were arrested between 18th and 20th of August, this is March, this is more than half a year since they were incarcerated, and as I said earlier, one of them, an 80-year-old man died in military detention. So, we are thinking that these people should be released,” he said.

Ahwefeada acknowledged that there were some interventions by the government including setting up of IDP camps. He also recalled that the military set up an investigative panel but said that the military can’t be a judge in its own case.

He appealed to the government to set up an independent commission of inquiry, saying that this will help in bringing closure to the matter. (Channels TV)