Okuama: Soldiers' Departure Sparks Fresh Wave of Violence and Bloodshed

Bloodbath returns to Okuama hours after soldiers leave

Bloodshed has returned less than 48 hours after troops were removed from the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area, with one person reported dead and three others critically injured.

As natives of the leveled Okuama are making an effort to return to their destroyed ancestral homes, new violence broke out, according to reports on Thursday morning.

According to rumors, some of the returnees are carrying out acts of retaliation by attacking people who are believed to have ventured into the wasteland in order to steal whatever remains of the ruins.

What has happened over the past 48 hours was described over the phone Leadership journalists reported that  a former Akugbene chairman who begged to remain anonymous, claimed: “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 decent at Okuama, must have passed prior information to them of their plan pull out.

“We have some respite now as we were like in a cage, not moving out to neighbouring communities at the Okuama direction where we go and buy most of our foodstuffs and household materials, particularly at the Okuagbe market.

“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.

“They were on their way to Ezebiri community along the footpath linking various communities on hearing that the road is free.

“One of them, who escaped back to our community with machete cuts, narrated that they were attacked by the Okuama returnees at gunpoint while on their way to Ezebiri.

“They attacked them with machetes when he managed to escape, while others were led towards the jetty at the community waterfront.

“The victim is in a critical condition with us right here at the primary healthcare centre.”

Graphic pictures of the escapees' machete attacks flooded reports.

An Indigenous person from a nearby community verified the assault to reporters.

He declared: “Yes, they (soldiers) pulled out of Okuama Tuesday around 5 to 6 pm. A soldier said that they received a signal from above to leave the community, immediately.

“On the Akugbene and Okuama returnees news, those youths went to Okuama to loot upon hearing that soldiers have left the community.

“Armed youths of Okuama accosted and shot at them and some are said to have been cut with machetes.

“Two of those Akugbene youths escaped to our community unhurt and we've already sent them back to their community.”

One of the two victims, who had escaped back to the village following the attack, is dead, according to another Akugbene source.

“As I'm talking to you, one of the two persons who escaped back from the Okuama assault is already dead,” he said.

In response, Mr. Clement Koki, the leader of the Okoloba community, stated that his group will keep up the peace and pray to God for protection.

He prayed: “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.”

Remember how the military burned down and besieged Okuama in revenge after soldiers who were supposedly on a peace mission were brutally massacred there on March 14, 2024.

On Tuesday, May 7th, 2024, after a 51-day military siege, the soldiers abruptly withdrew from the troubled community without any prior notice or warning, leaving residents stunned and wondering about the sudden exit.

For years, the Okuama community, an Urhobo enclave in Ughelli South Local Government Area, and the Okoloba community, an Ijaw enclave in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, have been embroiled in a bitter land dispute, fueling tensions and violence between the two groups.