Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed sadness over the death of the President-General of Okuama community, in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Pa James Oghoroko, in military detention.
The deceased was arrested along with five others in August this year in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom on March 14, 2024.
Governor Oborevwori, during a condolence visit on Friday, sympathized with the people of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom and the family of late Pa. James Oghoroko, who died on Thursday at Bori camp, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor JP, accompanied by the Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government, Dr. Lucky Avweromre, among others, described the death of the community leader as a huge loss to the Ewu-Urhobo kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area and the state at large.
He expressed concern about the harrowing experience of Okuama people since the unfortunate incident and assured the bereaved family and leaders of the community that Pa Oghoroko’s death would be investigated with a view to ascertaining the cause, while the government would be part of efforts to restore peace and tranquility to the area.
In their separate responses, the eldest son of the deceased, Mr. Oghoroko Ovigue Julius, the Secretary General of Ewu Clan Development Forum, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, the Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Sir. John Ebireri, and other community leaders, appreciated the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for the concern so far shown to the people of Okuama since the raiding of the community by the military after the unfortunate incident.
They urged Governor Oborevwori to intensify efforts towards securing the release of others still in military detention to forestall further loss of life in the camp, adding that government should hasten the process of restoring permanent peace to Okuama by addressing the boundary dispute which triggered the crisis in the area.
