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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), General Christopher Musa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community chiefs, Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye, in military custody.
Director Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, made this known while answering questions from journalists at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee end-of-year briefing, held in Abuja, saying that the Chief of Defence Staff had directed the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army to investigate the allegations and submit its report to the DHQ, next Monday.
Oghoroko, who until his death was the President-General of Okuama community, and 81-year-old Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer, were said to have died while in military detention.
The deceased alongside four others : Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka, were arrested during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024, following the killing of 17 officers and soldiers in the community.
The 17 officers and soldiers were said to have been on a peace mission to settle a dispute between Okuama and the neighboring Okoloba community, when they were brutally murdered on March 14, 2024.
Gusau said :“Regarding allegations of deaths in detention over the weekend, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died.
“Immediately, the CDS directed an investigation to be conducted by the 6 Division. Any moment from now, we expect the findings on whether the claims are true or not. For now, these remain allegations.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth, and by tomorrow, we will have more details.” He said.
