Okuama Community Files Explosive Lawsuit Against Nigerian Government, Military Over Deadly Invasion

*Alleges Nigerian Troops Massacred Civilians, Burned Down Entire Community

In an explosive legal action, the Okuama Community of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Federal Government of Nigeria and top military authorities over a deadly military invasion that devastated their community in March 2024.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Warri with suit no. FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, alleges gross violations of the fundamental rights of the Okuama people by agents of the Nigerian government and military. It seeks accountability and redress for the horrific events of March 14-25, 2024 when soldiers invaded Okuama, assaulted civilians, killed residents, burned down homes and properties, and displaced the entire community.

Massacres, Homes Burned, Community Displaced
According to court documents, the Nigerian Armed Forces under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff invaded Okuama between March 14-25 this year. The incursion featured “assaults, batteries, maiming, shelling, shooting and cold-blooded murders” of community members as well as the “destruction of their properties” by military troops.

The documents provide chilling details of the military’s actions. Eleven Okuama residents are named as having been killed by soldiers, including Mr. Wilson Eshebi Okorume, Mr. Joseph Ikpitere Ejomafuvwe, Mr. Teddy Ufuoma, Mr. Avwariko Akporobaro, Mr. Tega Osiko Oyibo and Mr. Omotegbono Isaac Esapo.

In a shocking portrayal, the affidavit states the military “burnt down buildings belonging to members of our said Okuama Community in the nine (9) quarters of the Community and left virtually no single building standing. The entire Community was razed down by the 3rd Respondent’s personnel as a form of retaliation or revenge…”

It describes how the “3rd Respondent’s personnel also burnt several personal belongings of our people in our homes/houses, including wrappers (dresses) of men and women, native shirts, coral beads and other expensive jewelries, shoes, caps/walking sticks, traditional boxes of expensive clothes, air cooker boxes, various electronic items including television sets, refrigerators, deep freezers, electricity generators, telephone handsets, cooking utensils, among others.”

The affidavit provides a quarter-by-quarter, compound-by-compound listing of the houses, buildings, churches, shrines and other properties burned down and destroyed by soldiers in each area of Okuama Community.

It states that during the two-week military siege, “no member of our Community has been allowed to enter into the Community for any reason whatsoever.” As a result, the “3rd and 5th Respondents have rendered our said Okuama Community people as INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) and/or REFUGEES, many of whom have died from injuries…and from infections and injuries suffered while running away from the invasion.”

Rights Violated, Reparations Sought
The applicants – Professor Arthur Ekpekpo, Mr. James Oghoroko and Mr. Bernard Esegba – are suing on behalf of the entire Okuama people. The respondents include the Federal Government, Attorney General, Armed Forces, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police for Delta State.

They allege the military invasion and occupation violated the fundamental rights of the Okuama people as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This includes their rights to life, dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of movement and right to own property.

The suit seeks a series of declarations from the court that the military action grossly trampled on the rights of the Okuama people. It seeks orders restraining the government from further rights violations and directing authorities to rehabilitate and rebuild the devastated community.