Fear Mounts As Hundreds Of Delta Women, Children Languish In Forests For Days After Troops Invaded Okuama

Following the invasion of Nigerian Army troops into Okuama community, Ewu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, in response to the killing of 17 soldiers, hundreds of women and children found themselves stranded in the forests for six days without access to food.

According to reports, the women and children hurriedly ran into the forests to evade potential reprisal attacks from angry soldiers who stormed the community. However, while fleeing for their lives, they did not carry food items, and other necessities which posed a serious challenge to them having spent days in the bush with little or no end in sight.

Meanwhile, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, issued a caution to traditional rulers in the state, urging them not to shield suspects involved in the soldiers’ killing in Okuama community.

Governor Oborevwori issued the warning during his address to traditional rulers at the State Traditional Rulers’ Council Secretariat in Asaba, regarding the regrettable incident.

He characterized the act as barbaric, inhumane, and unacceptable, emphasizing that it is not in line with the values of the state. He vowed that those responsible for the heinous act would be brought to justice.

Oborevwori stressed that no kingdom should protect the perpetrators, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to governance based on the rule of law and respect for human dignity.

The killing of the soldiers has drawn condemnation from governors of the 36 states, who reiterated their call for the establishment of state police to address security challenges.

Former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, retd, expressed concern that the soldiers’ killings could ignite further conflicts in the region if left unaddressed.