The family of Pa Dennis Okugbaye, the 81-year-old treasurer of the Okuama community in Delta State’s Ughelli South Local Government Area, has shared the tragic details surrounding his death in military detention on December 10, 2024.
This revelation comes amidst ongoing silence from both Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and military authorities, who have not yet addressed the incident, even six days after Okugbaye’s passing.
According to family sources who spoke anonymously to The PUNCH for security reasons, the family was instructed to pay ₦140,000 to fuel a military vehicle for transporting their sick father from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Asaba, Delta State. Pa Okugbaye, who had been in the custody of military officers, was reportedly being moved to the 63 Brigade in Asaba when he died en route.
“We were informed that our father was seriously ill and that we needed to send ₦140,000 to fuel the vehicle so that he could be transported to Asaba for medical treatment,” the family sources revealed. “We complied, and they told us to come to the 63 Brigade in Asaba to receive him on Monday, December 9. They specifically instructed that only his daughter would be allowed to receive him.”
However, when the family arrived in Asaba on the morning of December 9, they were left in suspense. The daughter, who was instructed to pick up Pa Okugbaye, waited at the military barracks until around 5 p.m. without any updates. The family, growing increasingly concerned, reached out to local leaders, including Governor Oborevwori, for assistance. Yet, despite their efforts, they received no response. It wasn’t until the following Tuesday, after multiple inquiries, that they were told their father had died while being transported.
The family members expressed their frustration, noting that they had not received any communication from the military or the governor’s office regarding the incident. “We were left in the dark, and no one from the military or the government reached out to inform us of his death,” the sources added.
Pa Okugbaye’s death follows closely on the heels of another tragic loss in the Okuama community. The community’s President General, Pa James Oghoroko, also passed away while in military custody less than a week earlier. Both men, along with other community leaders—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka—had been arrested by the military between August 18 and 20, 2024, in the aftermath of the killing of 17 soldiers during a peace mission meant to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Okuama and Okoloba communities.
The arrested community leaders have been held without trial since their detention, raising serious concerns about the legality of their imprisonment. Efforts by The PUNCH to contact the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Festus Ahon, for comment were unsuccessful, as their calls and messages went unanswered at the time of publication.
Social critic Mr. Zik Gbemre has condemned the actions of Governor Oborevwori, accusing him of failing to hold the military accountable for the deaths of the two community leaders. In a statement issued on Sunday, Gbemre expressed his deep concern over the treatment of the Okuama community leaders in military detention and the continued imprisonment of four others. He described the events as indicative of serious institutional failure.
“Governor Oborevwori’s refusal to confront the military over their abuse of power in Delta State is not only deeply concerning but also shameful,” Gbemre stated. “As the chief security officer of the state, his inaction in holding the military accountable for these deaths is appalling. What has been happening in Delta over the last few days is not just shameful, but deeply troubling for the people of this state.”
The deaths of Pa Okugbaye and Pa Oghoroko have sparked outrage, drawing attention to the growing concerns over the military’s conduct and the lack of accountability from state officials. The Okuama community and its leaders remain in a state of grief and uncertainty as they continue to demand answers and justice for the deaths of their loved ones.
