President General, 2 Other Okuama Leaders Arrested Over Killing of 17 Soldiers

The President General of Ewu Kingdom, Professor Arthur Ekpekpo, along with two other prominent Okuama leaders, has been arrested in connection with the recent killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.

Professor Ekpekpo was reportedly apprehended on Sunday night in an undisclosed location in Sapele, while Chief Belvis Adogbo and Dennis Akugbaye were arrested on Monday morning at different locations in Ughelli. Eyewitnesses claim that the arrests were carried out by armed men in plain clothes, suspected to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The arrests are believed to be related to a deadly incident in March, where 17 military personnel were killed in an ambush near the Okuama community. The military responded with a severe reprisal attack, during which the entire Okuama community was razed, leaving buildings, schools, and hospitals in ruins.

A local leader from Okuama, who requested anonymity, confirmed the arrests but expressed concern over the unknown whereabouts of the detained leaders. The source also mentioned that the community is in the dark about the reasons behind these arrests, especially as peace was beginning to return to the troubled area.

The Delta State government has been working on plans to resettle displaced residents following the March incident, which has left the community in disarray.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, has yet to provide an official statement on the situation but promised to brief the media soon. Additionally, there has been no formal communication from any security agencies regarding the arrests at this time.

It is important to note that the Nigerian Army had previously declared eight individuals, including seven men and one woman, wanted in connection with the killing of the soldiers. The names of those arrested match some of the individuals declared wanted by the military.