Saturday, January 25, 2025

Nigeria Army's Brutality Leaves Okuama Residents Homeless and Hopeless

The once-thriving community of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, has been reduced to ruins and despair following the brutal military invasion that left residents homeless and destitute. The Nigerian Army, under the guise of avenging the deaths of a few of their colleagues, stormed the village, slaughtering innocent civilians, setting homes ablaze, and turning the once-bustling community into a ghost town. Months later, promises of resettlement and rehabilitation by the Delta State Government remain unfulfilled, leaving the people of Okuama abandoned and suffering.

After the military's destructive raid, the state government corralled the displaced villagers into an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ewu, assuring them that their homes, schools, and essential infrastructure would be rebuilt within months. Trusting the government's words, the people reluctantly moved to the camp, hoping to return to a revived Okuama. However, upon their return on January 1, they found nothing but devastation—no homes, no schools, no healthcare facilities—just the haunting remnants of the community they once called home.

Many families now live in makeshift thatched huts, while others sleep in the open, exposed to the elements. Children, robbed of their education, have turned to fishing and farming in a desperate attempt to survive. The promised three-month reconstruction period has turned into an endless wait, as contractors have abandoned the sites, leaving skeletal structures that serve as cruel reminders of broken promises.

The cries of the people echo across the ruined landscape. Aaron Ighorhiohwunu, a local palm oil producer, expressed his deep frustration: “The soldiers destroyed everything I had. I have nothing left. We were forced into the camp with promises that have not been fulfilled. We have no homes, no food, no future. We are suffering beyond words.”

Hon. Jacob Akemor, a former councilor, voiced his disappointment, stating: “We expected the school to be completed by now. Our children are supposed to be in class, but instead, they are forced to work in the fields. This is a disgrace. The government has failed us.”

Women and children bear the heaviest burden of this crisis. Queen Oghenehwosa, the Okuama Community Chairlady, lamented: “We pleaded for the camp to be built in our community so we could rebuild quickly, but the government forced us to leave. Now we have returned to nothing. I have been living in the bush because I have no place to stay. Is this the justice we deserve?”

Young voices, filled with broken dreams, cry out for help. Master Godstime Rukevwere, a Junior Secondary School student, said: “I don’t want to be a fisherman. I want to go to school and become a great man, but my future has been taken from me. We are suffering. We need help.”

The Okuama people feel betrayed, abandoned, and left to fend for themselves. The government's failure to honor its commitments has left the community in squalor, with no clear path forward. Despite the governor's repeated assurances, the situation remains dire, and the people are growing weary of empty words.

“We have cried and pleaded. Now is the time for action,” said Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, a former Commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State. “The government has failed us, but we must not fail ourselves. We will begin rebuilding Okuama with whatever little resources we have. This is a task for every Urhobo person. We cannot allow our people to live like this any longer.”

The devastation of Okuama is not just a tragedy—it is a stain on the conscience of the Nigerian government and military. The people demand justice for the atrocities committed against them and immediate action to restore their community. The time for excuses is over. The Nigerian government must be held accountable for its role in the suffering of the Okuama people, and immediate steps must be taken to rebuild what was destroyed.

The Okuama residents, once proud and self-sufficient, now live as refugees in their own land. Their resilience is admirable, but they should not have to endure this hardship alone. The government, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians must rise to the occasion and provide the urgent intervention that this community desperately needs.

Until then, the people of Okuama remain trapped in a nightmare—a nightmare inflicted upon them by those sworn to protect them.

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