CDS orders investigation into deaths of Okuama leaders in military custody
By Oduche Azih
This headline, which just came to my attention, has simply messed up my Sunday night. As we focused on Seyi Tinubu, the visit of the German President, the impending total withdrawal of the Union of Sahelian States from ECOWAS, the charade of the passing of the 2025 Budget at the Senate, the spate of loans to cover the deficit and the deep hunger in the land, etc., how come the press has insisted on glossing over this human rights issue?
It is a sellout which actually started the very day President Tinubu surrendered to the military brass by allowing them to investigate themselves over the carnage at Okuama. The Nigerian Bar Association and the human rights sub-sector looked the other way. Where are the likes of Clement Nwankwo?
Have these fights been abandoned to Femi Falana? In hindsight we have just reaped what we sowed, didn’t we?
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Where is Chief E K Clarke? Has he been silenced by the continued attacks on his person and property? At his age, it is too late to give up o! Let us see what they can do to him.
According to this report, “General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has ordered for a thorough investigation into the deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko, President-General of the Okuama community, and 81-year-old Dennis Okugbaye, the community’s Treasurer, while in military detention.”
Really? How thoughtful of the military!
“Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, confirmed during an end-of-year briefing that General Musa has directed the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army to INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATHS and present a report by Monday.”
And strangely his agents downgraded the news item to an “allegation”.
How insensitive?
How on earth will the dead men and their families get justice from a lawless military? Not when Buratai is yet to be brought to book.
During a question and answer session, Brig-Gen. Gusau said, “Regarding allegations of deaths in detention over the weekend, headlines surfaced suggesting that individuals detained in connection with the Okuama incident had died.”
Why doesn’t Brig-Gen Gusau stop all the nonsense investigation by producing the men alive and releasing them to their families?
Nobody will listen to me and others. However, when Kemi Badenoch opens her mouth to comment, everybody will wake up from slumber to defend a non-existent national honour and integrity.
I am completely fed up.
What a Christmas!
