By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday reportedly released Dennis Okungbaye, an 81-year-old leader of Okuama community in Delta State, to Senator Ede Dafinone, the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State at the Senate.
The release of Okungbaye was announced in a press statement issued by Dafinone.
The development comes after Okungbaye was rumoured to have passed away while in a military detention facility.
It would be recalled that Okungbaye was part of other community leaders who were arrested and detained over an alleged connection with the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama in March 2024.
Meanwhile, in the press statement released on Tuesday, Sentor Dafinone confirmed that he has been actively involved in advocating for the rights and release of detained Okuama leaders, urging the military to uphold democratic principles in their dealings with these individuals.
The statement reads in part: “I am pleased to announce that Pa Dennis Okugbaye, one of the suspects detained by the Nigerian military since 18th/19th August, was released into my custody this afternoon in Port Harcourt. Pa Dennis was recently rumoured to have passed away in custody but was today released at the hospital where he was undergoing medical treatment.
“This marks another instance where I have successfully advocated for the release of a community leader. Previously, I also facilitated the release of His Royal Majesty, King Clement Ikolo, the King of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, who was arrested in connection with the same matter.
“I was accompanied by my Chief Of Staff, Chief Adelabu Bodior, and we handed over Pa Okugbaye to Mr. Charles Adogbo (Brother to Mr. Belvis Adogbo, who is still detained) and Rev Peter Gordon Onagharakpote, an Anglican Reverend from Okuama.
“Others still in detention include Hon. Chief Belvis Adogbo, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Mr Dennis Amalaka, Miss. Mabel Owhemu. We note that the detainees have been held for about four months whilst the investigations continued and we will therefore continue to strongly appeal to the military authorities to promptly conclude their investigations and thereafter charge to court all those with cases to answer and release any not found to be culpable in the gruesome murder of 17 men and officers of the Nigerian Army.”
