Okuama clash: Delta Gov. says innocent resident should not be victimised

The governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has paid a visit to the Okuama community following the attack that claimed the lives of officers of the Nigerian Army.

The governor, during his visit, said innocent people shouldn’t be forced to endure suffering because of something they had no hand in.

Top government officials and Brig. Gen. Unachukwu Ugochukwu, Commander of 63 Brigade, accompanied the governor to the communities.

Speaking to journalists at Okuama, Oborevwori said: “We have followed due process in the whole incident. The people have been buried and the king that was detained has been released Friday and I am here to see what happened in 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 its a great synergy.”

He promised that Okuama’s residents would soon return home and reassured them that his administration was working hard to end the face-off.

The governor added,  “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 there is no point 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.”