Death of Okuama Leader in Military Detention

Last week’s directive by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for a thorough investigation into the death of Okuama community leader, which reportedly occurred while in army’s custody, can clearly be seen as medicine after death. 

Oghoroko, the President-General of Okuama community, died after being detained since August by the military in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The community leader, along with five others – 81-year-old Dennis Okungbaye, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka – were arrested during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024.

The arrests followed the killing of 17 soldiers on March 14, 2024, during a peace mission aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.

THISDAY gathered that but for the intervention of the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State at the Senate, 81-year-old Okungbaye who took critical ill in detention and had completely emaciated, would have equally died in detention.

Owing to the sympathy of many Nigerians to the Army due to the killing of 17 of its personnel and mood of the country at the time, many Nigerians had thought an arrest within the constitutional limit was useful to secure information from them about the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

But the logical questions are: How come the Okuama leaders were kept for five months without trial? Couldn’t the military have released the leaders after 48 hours when they found out that the leaders did not commit an offence? Why were they not handed over to the police thereafter for further investigation knowing that the military does have prosecutorial powers of civilians?

Finally, what would the directive by the CDS for investigation of the death of the community leader achieve? Is it proper for the military to investigate itself? What did previous investigations achieve?