Tension has engulfed Okpare-Olomu community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State following the military’s disruption of the community’s annual general conference on Thursday.
The unrest escalated on Friday as over 1,000 women staged a protest to the palace of the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, decrying the invasion and calling for peace.
The protest took a violent turn when a youth, identified as John Ogedegbe, was reportedly shot by a vigilante operative supporting the military’s efforts to halt the conference.
Ogedegbe, who was initially rushed to the hospital, was later arrested alongside eight others, including a woman, by officers from the Otu-Jeremi Police Divisional Headquarters.
The crisis began on Thursday when military personnel arrived in three Hilux vehicles at approximately 7:30 a.m. and reportedly seized control of the community town hall to prevent the annual conference.
The conference, regarded as the community’s highest decision-making forum, was meant to review leadership activities and address pressing community issues.
Residents, including the women protesters, alleged that the military’s intervention was influenced by factions opposing the Otaka-led leadership due to disputes over land sales.
The protesters urged the Olomu monarch to intervene, accusing their opponents of having ulterior motives.
“The annual conference is a vital forum for presenting stewardship and achievements to the community. Using security forces to halt this process is illegal and undermines our autonomy,” said Okiemute Otaka, President General of Okpare-Olomu, who is reportedly in hiding.
Otaka also confirmed the arrests, naming those detained as David Ogodogu, Wealth, Ebruphiyo Alfred, Andrew Iruoga, Ogaga, and Alex Orgi.
He called for their immediate release, emphasizing that the protest was peaceful until security agencies intervened.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Local Government, J.A. Ewenede, the chairman of Ughelli South LGA, Lucky Avweromre, refuted claims of a military invasion, stating that the security deployment was necessary to enforce a court order restraining the community from holding meetings.
“The military and other security agencies were deployed to ensure compliance with the chairman’s directive postponing the conference.
“This measure aimed to prevent any defiance and maintain peace,” the statement read.
Avweromre explained that the decision to postpone the conference was in line with a court order, adding that the council’s primary concern was to preserve stability in the community.
The incident has drawn attention to the deepening crisis in Okpare-Olomu, with various stakeholders calling for calm.
Community leaders and rights groups have urged the authorities to release the arrested individuals and ensure justice for the injured protester.
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