By Abiola Olawale
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged deaths of two Okuama community leaders, Pa James Oghoroko and Denis Okugbaye, while in military custody.
This directive comes in response to the emergence of reports and allegations that both community leaders died six days apart while being detained at military detention facilities.
Musa gave this directive during the End-of-Year Briefing by the Strategic Communications Interagency Committee, Office of the National Security Adviser.
He added that the investigation has been assigned to the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army.
According to him, the division is expected to come up with a report in other to determine the veracity of these allegations.
He also assured that the military is committed to transparency in the matter and to uncover the truth about these incidents.
The New Diplomat reports that Oghoroko, who served as the President-General of the Okuama community, and Okugbaye, the community’s treasurer, both passed away in November, 2024.
They were said to have passed away while in the detention facility of the army.
Their detention followed the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama on March 14, 2024, during a reported peace mission purportedly aimed at resolving a dispute between Okuama and the neighbouring Okoloba community.
