Kehinde Fajobi
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has ordered a full investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko and Dennis Okugbaye, while in military custody.
Oghoroko, President-General of the Okuama community, and 81-year-old Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer, reportedly died six days apart after being detained during a military operation conducted between August 18 and 20, 2024.
The operation followed the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission to resolve a conflict between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.
Alongside the deceased, four other community members—Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka—were also arrested.
Addressing the allegations, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, confirmed on Monday that Gen. Musa had tasked the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division with investigating the claims.
The division is expected to submit its findings by Monday.
“Regarding allegations of deaths in detention, over the weekend, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died,” Gusau said during the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee end-of-year briefing.
He added, “Immediately, the CDS directed an investigation to be conducted by the 6 Division. Any moment from now, we expect the findings on whether the claims are true or not. For now, these remain allegations.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth, and by tomorrow, we will have more details.”