Okuama: Army Board Begins Sitting Wednesday In Warri
THE Board of Inquiry constituted by Defence Headquarters to probe the March 17 killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama, Delta State, is scheduled to commence sitting Wednesday in Warri.
Chairman of the Board, Air Vice Marshal David Ajayi, told Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in Warri: “We are on a fact-finding mission and not to apportion blame. We are here to gather facts from security agencies, community leaders, and community dwellers.
“This report will also help us to ensure healthy communication that will enhance civil-military relations and ensure that economic activities thrive again in the affected communities.”
However, Okuama leaders who spoke on the sitting of the board, said the people would not be part of the inquiry.
One leader said: “Our people cannot participate in the military inquiry because Okuama people are displaced in the bush. How can people come out to attend such meetings? They are not even safe now.”
Besides the Okuama leader, the community’s lawyer before the March 14 incident, Ejedegba Innocent, confirmed that Okuama people would not attend the sitting.
On the contrary, a leader of Okoloba community, which has a land dispute with the Okuama, indicated that his people would participate in the inquiry today.
It was gathered that the panel would commence sitting in the morning, and meet with Okoloba community leaders from 2 pm.
The panel would resume sitting in Bayelsa State on the issue on Friday.
Correspondingly, Delta State government has indicated interest in presenting a position paper to the military inquiry.
The Pere (traditional ruler) of Akugbene-mein Kingdom, Bomadi Local Government Area, HRH Kalanama VIII, said that they did not invite his community to the sitting.
Meanwhile, a 106-year woman at Okuama, Madam Esther Obarogheruo, displaced among others, following the ongoing military cordon-and-search operation by the Nigerian Army, has screamed for help from Delta State government and the local council authorities.
The siege on Okuama, which extended to other communities in the state, was consequent upon the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers in the riverside community.
Ededegba, who faulted the composition of the panel, said he could not imagine how the same military institution that declared leaders of Okuama community wanted in several newspaper outlets, would still expect them to get justice from a panel it constituted or even make appearance to testify before the body.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had made contradictory statements on why the soldiers were in Okuama community, saying these should be some of the issues the Army should be questioned on at an independent panel of inquiry.
The lawyer said the villagers who fled into the bushes on March 14 for the safety of their lives, remained trapped, but added that he was aware that the enlarged Ewu Kingdom, which Okuama belongs, would appeal before the panel.
