Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has inaugurated an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Management Committee to work out the resettlement of the displaced people of Okuama, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
The people of Okuama were forced to flee their homes in the wake of last month’s killing of 17 soldiers in the community by persons yet to be identified. Since the incident, the Nigerian military has continued its occupation of the community, preventing the return of the fleeing locals.
The committee has Abraham Ogbodo, a veteran journalist and former editor of The Guardian Newspaper, as chairman and director of personnel management, Ughelli South Local Government Council, while Austin Emaduku is to serve as secretary.
Other members include Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Festus Utuama, Reuben Izeze, Richard Kofi, Oviri Uto, Josephine Oduaran, Obukohwo Henry Ediyo, Karo Ovemeso and Austin Ohwofaria who will serve as Camp Commandant.
Inaugurating the committee at Government House Asaba, Governor Oborevwori charged the members to plan the resettlement and rehabilitation of the people of the Okuama community.
“I welcome all of you to the inauguration of the committee charged with the duty of planning and coordinating the settlement and rehabilitation of our people at Okuama.
“Much as we condemned in strong terms the dastardly act that took the lives of our gallant officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, we will do everything we can to reduce to the barest minimum the attendant effects on the common man in Okuama community.
“Innocent people have been displaced, their homes and properties destroyed. This was, and still is an unfortunate and most unexpected development.
“Like I said when I visited Okuama the other day, the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the military agreed that innocent people in Okuama should not be made to suffer needlessly.
“This is why we sincerely believe that sooner than later, the innocent ones will be allowed to return to their homes.
“It is now right for the government to set up a committee to plan their resettlement and rehabilitation ahead of their return. This is the minimum we owe our people; we have to reassure them to have a sense of belonging as we make adequate arrangements for their settlement and rehabilitation.
“Note that you have been carefully chosen based on your previous antecedents – we are, therefore, confident that you will do a transparent, thorough and selfless job that not only the people of Okuama but every Deltan will be proud of you as you make adequate arrangements of receiving them and lessening their pains,” the governor said.
He urged the committee to work with a sense of urgency that the assignment requires, urging them to be transparent, thorough and selfless in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Okuama.
