More than one month after the killing of 17 military personnel leading to the invasion and cordoning off of Okuama, Delta State governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has finally been allowed to visit the community to see things for himself.
Recall that he had been prevented by the military authorities from accessing the community which residents had fled into the woods and several buildings reportedly levelled by soldiers in the wake of the killings.
The governor, who was accompanied by Commander 63 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Unachukwu Ugochukwu, and top government officials, on a journey that took over one hour and 20 minutes from Warri, reiterated that innocent citizens would not be made to suffer for what they know nothing about.
He then gave assurances for the safe return of the indigenes who fled the community in the wake of the crisis over the killing of 17 officers and soldiers on March 14.
Speaking to journalists at Okuama, Governor Oborevwori said: “We have followed due process in the whole incident. The people have been buried and the King who was detained was released yesterday today I am here to see what happened in the Okuama community.
“The Okuama 17 is something that we didn’t expect to happen because it is against our bargain for peace and security which I promised Deltans that we are going to enhance.
“We have been enjoying peace and security since last year until the 14th of March when the four Army officers and 13 soldiers were murdered.
“They were not just murdered, their bodies were mutilated and we have come here to see what happened.
“Let me again reiterate Mr President’s promise that no innocent person would be victimised and you can see that, from that time till now, there has been no harassment of citizens of this community.
“I have come to see how the innocent people of this community can be reintegrated back with the cooperation of the military.
“We know it’s a big loss to them but we have to follow due process. The Brigade Commander is with us and the newly posted Commander of 181 Battalion, Lt Col Dabo, is also here with us and it’s a great synergy.”
He said his administration was doing a lot to effectively resolve the dispute, adding that citizens of Okuama would soon return home.
Continuing, Governor Oborevwori, said: “Let me once again thank Mr President and Commander in Chief, Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff for their cooperation so far.
“They have been very supportive and they have kept to their promise that innocent people will not be victimised. I want to assure the people of Okuama that there is no point in running away from your community.
“We are going to bring you back to your community. It’s only those that are involved the military are looking for”.
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