Okuama massacre: Villagers boycott Reps hearing over fear of arrest

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence were in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday for an investigative hearing into the deaths of 17 military soldiers in Okuama town, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The investigative hearing was held in accordance with the House’s resolution passed on March 19 to explore the remote causes of the tragedy.

Chronicle NG reports that 17 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and a captain, were ambushed and killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen while they were in Okuama on a peacekeeping mission.

Following the incident, military soldiers damaged and razed buildings in the Okuama riverine settlement as a form of retaliation, forcing inhabitants to seek safety in the nearby bushes of Ewu Kingdom.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting location at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in the state’s Warri South Local Government Area, around 10.45 a.m., but had to wait for indigenes from the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, during the waiting period, sources stated that the locals did not show up due to “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, when addressing journalists, the committee chairman stated that the committee has received useful memoranda about the incident from many parties.

READ ALSO:

• Osun teenager sentenced to three-year imprisonment for stealing water taps
• Address 2024 Hajj concerns, reps tell NAHCON
• WASSCE: Lagos govt to pay N1.5bn for 58,000 students

Benson also assuaged Okuama indigenes who were concerned about their safety by stating that “there would be no witch hunt whatsoever.”

He asked members of the public who wish to submit a memorandum to do so in ten copies and submit them to the committee within one week.

He stated that they could submit such memoranda to the committee’s clerk, Musa Aliyu, at the National Assembly in Abuja or at the public investigative hearing.

He said, “The House of Representatives Committee on Defence looks forward to a robust engagement and meaningful contributions from all stakeholders.

“We came in yesterday (Tuesday). We met Governor Oborevwori, and we told him our mission. We’re here today (Wednesday) to see members of the community on camera and by way of memoranda.

“We’ve received a lot of memoranda from them, but they’ve not turned out physically. The window is extended for a week. So we’re still expecting a lot more memoranda from the people of the Okuama community.

“We’ve assured the governor and the people that we have the full backing of the House of Representatives to ensure that this matter is reviewed from both sides and followed to a logical conclusion.”

Benson promised the locals protection and urged them to come forward.

He said, “The community people are scared to come out vis-à-vis another list of wanted people being released. They have sent in a memorandum, and we’re still giving them a week to turn in a further memorandum in the next week.

“The clerk of the house is receiving the memory. We’ve dedicated our time to ensuring justice is done and people return to their community, perhaps better than it was before. We need to be fully armed with enough information before we visit Okuama. We will visit the place after hearing from the victims themselves,” he said.

Okuama massacre: Villagers boycott Reps hearing over fear of arrest

Osun teenager sentenced to three-year imprisonment for stealing water taps

In Osun State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has secured the conviction of one Abiodun Adewuyi.

Adewuyi was arrested by the security outfit  for theft of water taps at Durodola community, Owode-Ede town.

He was subsequently arraigned and sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing the items.

18-year-old Adewusi was convicted and sentenced by an Osun Chief Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ede.

The spokesperson of the Command, Adeleke Kehinde, in a statement in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the convict was caught in a building removing the taps on April 16 at about 5:40 pm.

READ ALSO:

• Address 2024 Hajj concerns, reps tell NAHCON
• WASSCE: Lagos govt to pay N1.5bn for 58,000 students
• BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

A 60-year-old resident of Nza Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, identified only as Mr. Kenneth, was reportedly tortured to death by operatives of local vigilantes hired by his younger brother.

Activist Harrison Gwamnishu shared a video on X, showing the sexagenarian with his hands tied behind him, being repeatedly beaten with cutlasses and sticks by his assailants.

Mr. Kenneth had sold a water tank in his family house to address family issues, which his younger brother disagreed with. Consequently, the brother called for the local vigilante group, who arrested and tortured Mr. Kenneth until he succumbed to his injuries.

In the video of his torture posted by Gwamnishu, Mr. Kenneth could be heard shouting “They have killed me. It is death. I am dying! What did I do?”

READ ALSO:

• Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush
• Place arms embargo on Nigeria, IPOB tells Italy
• BDCs blame peer-to-peer Binance, others for naira  fall

As his torturers took turns to beat him, voices could be heard in the background saying in Igbo language, “You stole. It is a general property,” amongst other unclear words.