Okuama massacre: Delta govt lacks data on crisis victims – Oborevwori

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has revealed that the state does not know the number of those affected by the Okuama crisis, following the killing of four military officers and 13 soldiers, and therefore could not profile them.

Governor Oborevwori disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders from Okuama community and members of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp Management Committee in Asaba.

He pleaded with those displaced by the crisis to relocate to the IDP camp at Ewu, Delta state.

According to him, relocating to the camp would help to profile those affected, attend to their health needs, and other social services.

The governor assured the people of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area that the state government would rebuild the school and health center destroyed in the wake of the crisis that rocked the community.

He added that no effort would be spared in championing peace and development in the community and charged indigenes of the town to uphold the ideals that would positively impact their ancestral homes.

The governor said his administration was committed to rebuilding the town in partnership with other stakeholders. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Secretary General of Ewu Kingdom, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, described the governor as a father and assured that they would prevail on their people to relocate to the IDP camp.

Chairman of the IDP Management Committee, Abraham Ogbodo, also spoke to newsmen, saying the camp was befitting and had the capacity to accommodate 1,700 persons.

“On the point of the IDP camp, he has also shared light with us why it is critical that the people come to the IDP camp that is prepared for them. First, it will help to get people to attend to them, and people who want to support willingly will come there and support them.

“We are also also going to prevail on our people to come to the IDP camp in Ewu; only the people that are affected. One of the reasons our people don’t want to come to the IDP camp is that people want to highjack it.

Chairman of the IDP Management Committee, Mr Abraham Ogbodo, who also spoke to newsmen, said the camp was befitting and has the capacity to accommodate 1,700 persons and called on those affected to find their way to the camp for their health and social needs.

“The meeting with the governor is most fruitful because the governor addressed all of the issues. Most fears by the Okuama community were rested by the governor. Even though I have told them before that there was no need for those fears,” Ogbodo said.