Okuama Treasurer’s Death: Family Claims Military Transport Payment Led To Tragedy

Okuama Treasurer’s Death: Family Claims Military Transport Payment Led To Tragedy

The heartbreaking death of 81-year-old Pa Dennis Okugbaye, the treasurer of the Okuama community in Delta State’s Ughelli South Local Government Area, has sent shockwaves through the region. The family of the late Pa Okugbaye, who passed away while in military detention on December 10, 2024,….Okuama Treasurer’s Death: Family Claims Military Transport Payment Led To Tragedy

has provided new details about the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.

Six days after Pa Okugbaye’s death, neither Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori nor military authorities have issued any official statement regarding the incident, raising concerns among the community and citizens alike.

Family sources, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, disclosed that they had to pay a staggering N140,000 to the military to facilitate the transportation of their sick father from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Asaba, Delta State.

According to the sources, Pa Okugbaye was being transferred by military personnel to the 63 Brigade in Asaba when he reportedly passed away on the way. The family was instructed to send the money for fuel to transport him and was then asked to meet at the military base to receive him. However, after waiting for hours at the barracks, the family received devastating news the following day: their father had died during the journey.

“We were informed that our father was very ill and that we needed to send N140,000 to cover the fuel costs for his transfer to Asaba. After doing so, we were told to come to the 63 Brigade to receive him. But when we arrived, there was no word from the military. We later learned that he had passed away on the road,” a family source recounted.

As of now, the military has not made any formal comment, and the Delta State Governor’s office has yet to reach out to the grieving family. This tragedy follows the death of Pa Okugbaye’s colleague, Pa James Oghoroko, who also passed away in military custody just a week prior.

Both men, along with several other community leaders, were detained by the army after the killing of 17 soldiers during a peace mission between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in March 2024.

Despite the mounting public outcry, efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, and the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oborevwori, Mr. Festus Ahon, have been unsuccessful.

In a statement, social critic Mr. Zik Gbemre strongly criticized Governor Oborevwori for his failure to intervene in the matter. Gbemre condemned the lack of action, saying that the governor’s silence in the face of such grave abuse of power is both shameful and dangerous.

“This is an alarming example of the deepening institutional failures in Delta State. The governor’s inaction in calling the army to account for the wrongful deaths of two prominent community leaders is disgraceful,” Gbemre said.

As the investigation into Pa Okugbaye’s death continues, concerns grow over the safety and well-being of the remaining individuals still detained by the military.

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