Okuama: Displaced villagers move into IDP camp built by Delta govt

Displaced villagers of the troubled Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have moved into the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp the Delta State government built for them at Okuama-Ewu in Urhobo kingdom.

Following the military action in the community after the killing of soldiers on a peace mission in March, some residents got displaced.

They had left their ancestral land for the forest and neighbouring communities to avoid being caught int the reprisal.

After meeting with leaders of Okuama at Government House, Asaba, on Friday, buses were sent to an agreed location to convey the displaced residents from Okuama community to the camp.

The displaced residents had initially rejected into the camp, saying it was built outside their land.

Citing security and other reasons, the state government declined their request until last Friday when Governor Sherrif Oborevwori met with the community for the first time since the incident and persuaded the leaders with a promise to commence rebuilding the health center and a six-classroom block a few weeks from now.

The displaced men, women, and children of Okuama community arrived in buses, following the governor’s plea for registration.

A displaced villager, Pastor Edewor Ogedegbe, said, “We‘re convinced Oborevwori means well.

“We told him why the displaced villagers resisted it (camp) because of the underlying issues. He told us clearly that the government would address the matters systematically, and of course, gradually as well.

“Today, we are here, two buses have come and gone, and they are going back again, but I worried that when you talk about 200, it is a far cry from even the people that are coming only today.”