Delta Advisory Council Begs Army To Relax Siege On Okuama To Avert Humanitarian Crisis

The Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council (DSA&PBC), has called on military authority to relax soldiers’ siege to Okuama community, theater of the armed youths offensive against soldiers on peacekeeping mission.

According to the council, after a meeting at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, presided over by its Chairman, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, the siege to the communities should be dismantled so as to also facilitate independent observations, investigations and provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy dwellers for peaceful livelihood.

Expressing unequivocal condemnation of the killing of officers and soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State, the State Peace Building Council, condoled the Nigerian Army authority, the Presidency, the families of the dead officers and soldiers, and to the Government of Delta State for the very unnecessary colossal loss of lives.

In its resolution at the end of the meeting, the DSA & PBC commended the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his timely responses to what it termed the very sad, complex and sorrowful situation.

The resolution reads: “As an institution with excellent credentials of advocacy, commitment and activism for the promotion, sustenance and advancement of peace building and conflict resolution, Council re-affirms its dedication to the course and quick process of return to peace and stable livelihood in Okuama and in all other communities afflicted by this unfortunate development.

“Council empathized very strongly with the people of Okuama and all our other communities in Delta and Balyesa states the unfortunate and horrible experiences of suffering and losses.”

The Council urged relevant authorities to fish out the masterminds of the heinous crime with a view to bringing them to justice.

It said: “The perpetrators of the criminally bestial killing of the Army officers and soldiers must be apprehended and be duly prosecuted. There must be no hiding locations for these criminals.

“In the mean time, Council calls upon the relevant authorities especially the Nigerian Army and the Presidency to open up all access to the affected communities for uninhibited and safe flow of movement and return by those who fled their homesteads for fear of further afflictions.

“The siege to the communities should be dismantled so as to also facilitate independent observations, investigations and provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy dwellers for peaceful livelihood.”