There has been a call to assist residents of Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State to resume their normal lives following the military’s withdrawal from the community.
The Secretary-General of Ewu Development Clan Union, Edewor Egedegbe, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri on Thursday.
He said the residents should be rallied around as Wednesday’s withdrawal of soldiers would enable the people to start regaining their normal lives.
NAN recalls that Ewu clan, like Okuama and many other communities, had been under military siege since March 14, following the murder of 17 soldiers on a peacekeeping mission.
The embattled community, however, regained freedom on Wednesday, 55 days after the incident.
“It is a welcome development, a confirmation that our prayers and wishes are being considered by the government. Though it is better late than never, the military’s withdrawal is coming a little late. Between March 14 and now, Okuama Community has lost many souls and that is not being talked about.
“While I applaud the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, and the Delta Government, it leaves much to be desired that the people can be so neglected for such a long time. They were living in trenches for no fault of theirs,” he said.
He said with the military gone, it was high time the federal, state, and local governments rose to support the people.
“Bring them back and resuscitate them; let them live their lives once again. It is a welcome development; let the healing process begin,” he said.
Egedegbe, who is also the Executive Director of Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, noted the many pending court cases challenging the military authority on the crisis.
“We are watching, listening, and trusting God that the voice of reason will prevail with regards to what happened in Okuama Community.
“We wish this will never happen again in our lives as a nation,” he said.
Egedegbe, who said professionalism and due diligence should be followed in managing humanity, urged the government to ensure it always catered to the welfare and well-being of its citizens.
He charged the government and citizens to learn from the crisis, urging residents of Okuama, in particular, to be law-abiding.
Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta had, in a statement issued on Wednesday, announced the soldiers’ withdrawal following a series of deliberations and collaborations between the state government and the military leadership.
“With this development, the people of Okuama can now safely return to their homes and begin the process of reintegration and rebuilding their homes,” the governor said.
Multiple sources from the neighbouring Akugbene and Okoloba communities in Bomadi Local Government Area confirmed that soldiers were seen removing their hardware from Okuama on Wednesday.
(NAN
