Bloodbath in Okuama: One Dead, Three Injured as Soldiers Withdrawn from Community
By Emmanuel Enebeli
OKUAMA/Nigeria: Less than 48 hours after soldiers were withdrawn from Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, bloodshed has returned, leaving one person dead and three others fatally injured. The violence erupted as indigenes attempted to return to their ruined ancestral homes, with some engaging in reprisal attacks against those allegedly looting the remains of the community.
A former chairman of Akugbene, who preferred anonymity, revealed, “We were surprised to see the soldiers pulled out on Tuesday, and some indigenes of Okuama immediately went back to the community. We believed some soldiers, who are of Urhobo descent at Okuama, must have passed prior information to them of their plan to pull out.”
He continued, “But, as I’m talking to you, there is a problem; three indigenes of our community have already been ambushed and attacked with machetes by Okuama returnees.”
An indigene of a neighboring community confirmed the attack, stating, “Armed youths of Okuama accosted and shot at them and some are said to have been cut with machetes.”
Another source from Akugbene disclosed the death of one of the victims, saying, “As I’m talking to you, one of the two persons who escaped back from the Okuama assault is already dead.”
The chairman of Okoloba community, Mr. Clement Koki, expressed his community’s commitment to peace, saying, “It is true that the soldiers have left Okuama. On our part as a community, we will continue to maintain the peace and pray to God Almighty for His protection and support.”
The withdrawal of soldiers from Okuama comes after a siege that lasted 51 days, following the gruesome killing of soldiers near the community on March 14, 2024. Okuama community and Urhobo enclave in Ughelli South Local Government Area, and Okoloba community, an Ijaw enclave in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, have been embroiled in conflict over a piece of land.
Source: News Express
