By Victor Lewis
Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District Ede Dafinone and other leaders are currently sustaining a push to ensure the release the remaining Okuama indigenes who were arrested by the military in the wake of last year’s killing of 17 soldiers in the community.
The detainees which include Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Mr. Julius Oghoroko, Mr. Bernard Esegba, President General Pa James Oghoroko, Treasurer Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs. Rita Akata, were arrested between August 18 and 20, 2024, over alleged involvement in the killing the soldiers who were reportedly on a peace mission to the Community. One detainee has since died in custody.
Speaking as a guest on Crown FM programme, Effurun, recently, Dafinone condemned their prolonged detention without charges, saying that himself, his office and other Urhobo leaders were in collaboration to secure those still held in captivity by the military authority.
“Efforts to secure the release of our people currently in captivity have been ongoing. This is not just the work of my office, but also of several senior figures in Delta State including some based abroad who are committed to ensuring these individuals are either released or formally charged to an open court. The matter remains a top priority. The families are in constant touch with me, and we are guiding them in their own approaches while they, in turn, lend support to ours.
“I can confirm that my office is in regular contact with both the Nigerian Army and the justice system to find ways of resolving the situation. Our goal is simple: to secure the release of our people from detention. Tragically, one of the detainees has died while in custody.
We are pressing the authorities to release his body to his family so he can be given a proper burial. This matter is actively on the table, and we are exploring every possible avenue to bring the remaining detainees home.
“My recent discussions on this matter have focused on ensuring that we do not allow anniversary to pass without resolution. No one should be held for a year without trial or formal charges. Our governor and other prominent Urhobo leaders are pulling their weight on this matter. We are not sleeping over the plight of our Okuama brothers held in military custody for over a year now. But this is not a matter to be used for politics or to score cheap political points, as some would like. We are talking about human lives, our brothers”, he emphasized.
Commenting on the deplorable condition of the Effurun/Sapele/Benin highway, Senator Dafinone disclosed that his office, the Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and other national legislators from Delta Central are pushing for improvements the road, adding that, he has been in constant communication with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, regarding urgent repairs from Koko Junction to the Effurun Roundabout, just as he added that work has already commenced on some sections.
On the state of the nation’s economy, Dafinone expressed optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms were already yielding results.
“On the economic front, our focus remains on improving the capacity of our people to pay bills, buy land, build homes, and acquire assets. I must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making tough decisions that many before him avoided, including removing fuel subsidies and adjusting the foreign exchange system. These reforms are re-engineering the economy, and while the pain is real, it is part of the necessary adjustment process.
“We are beginning to see signs of progress. Economic indicators suggest we are on the right path, and my personal belief is that by the end of this year, or by the first quarter of next year, Nigerians will begin to see and feel the benefits of these bold reforms.
For example, the price of a bag of rice, which peaked late last year at about ₦100,000, has now dropped to around ₦70,000. It’s still high, but it is moving in the right direction, and further adjustments are expected as the government continues to keep a close eye on the situation”, he said.
He urged Delta Central residents to support both Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda, saying alignment between state and federal politics will bring greater development to Delta.
As the first anniversary of the Okuama arrests looms, the Senator’s words reflect both political urgency and the delicate balancing act of engaging federal authorities while addressing the mounting frustration of his constituents.
For the families of the detainees, the coming weeks may determine whether hope turns to relief or deepens into another year of waiting.
COMMENTS