Lawyer explains lawsuit against military as Delta government returns from Okuama citizens | The Guardian Nigeria News

Ijaw group denounces ‘campaign of slander’ against the military
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged military authorities to demobilize from the Okuama community so that indigenes can return and rehabilitation can begin.

This is as the lead counsel, who at the weekend filed a N200 billion lawsuit against the Nigerian Army, Malcolm Omirhobo, clarified that he is a counsel and not a party to the fundamental rights case filed at the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta. Stands.

He said the case was filed after being informed by residents of Okuama community, adding that the clarification was necessary to dispel the impression created on the subject.

Oborevwori, who on Saturday visited the plundered community for the first time since March 14 when 17 soldiers were killed, said the way has been cleared for rehabilitation.

He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I visited the troubled Okuama community today for a first-hand assessment of the situation on the ground. It is nice that a lot has happened since the sad and tragic incident took place, in which four officers and thirteen soldiers lost their lives.

“The stage now is the rehabilitation and return of innocent civilians who fled the community in the aftermath of the terrible incident.”

Meanwhile, the Concerned Ijaw Citizens (CIC) has raised concerns over a series of sponsored and unwarranted attacks and a well-orchestrated smear campaign against the Nigerian military leadership over the Okoloba/Okuama crisis.

The group, in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, jointly signed by its Coordinator, Seigha Manager, and its Publicity Secretary, Andrew E. Elijah, said it has exposed a series of sponsored and baseless attacks, and a well-orchestrated campaign. of defamation by a section of the media to discredit the Nigerian Army over the Okoloba/Okuama crisis.

It is alleged that the aim was to blackmail the armed forces with deliberate falsehoods and baseless stories as a ploy to demand the removal of the service chiefs.

While commending the level of professionalism of the military in handling the crisis, the group urged the military command not to be blackmailed into abandoning their professional duties.

The group stated that the Okoloba people believe in peaceful means to end the conflict, and agreed to submit to the Military Investigation Council.

The letter stated that the Okoloba people have informed relevant security agencies, local and state governments of the reckless activities of the Okuama people, including (but not limited to) alleged unwarranted intimidation of defenseless women and men with machetes, clubs , bows, etc. arrows, guns in their farms and fishing lakes, rape, kidnapping, arson, murder, among others.