Following reports of soldiers’ invasion of the Okpare community, Ughelli South local government area of Delta State on Thursday, the chairman of the council, Hon Lucky Avweromre, has given reasons for their presence in the community.
He said the presence of the troops was to ensure compliance with the postponement of the community’s annual conference.
The annual conference of the community was to hold on Thursday where the annual report of the community was to be presented.
In a statement signed by the secretary to the Local Government Council, Olorogun John Ewenede, on behalf of the council, he clarified that the military presence in Okpare was not an invasion.
He added that the soldiers were on their routine community-to-community monitoring patrol in the local government area.
The statement read, “To say that the military invaded Okpare community is untrue and false; they were in Okpare to ensure compliance with the Local Government Council chairman’s order to postpone the community conference scheduled for December 26, 2024.
“The conference was postponed due to a court order restraining and prohibiting community meetings pending court proceedings.
“The Ughelli South Local Government Council, led by the chairman, Hon. Lucky I. Avweromre, requested the postponement to maintain peace and stability in the community.”
He said the letter was addressed to the President General of Okpare Community and copied to various security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Force, and the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Agbor, Delta State.
“The presence of the security agencies, including the police, the NSCDC, the Army and the VGN, was aimed at preventing any potential defiance of the Chairman’s order and ensuring a peaceful resolution.
“It’s essential to correct the misleading information and provide an accurate account of the events,” he added.
But the president-general of Okpare-Olomu Town, Mr Okiemute Otoka, alleged that the military personnel were deployed to truncate the annual conference of the community.
Otoka alleged that some community elders and leaders who illegally sold community lands without approval of the annual conference were behind the invasion of the community townhall by the military.
Sources alleged that operatives made their way into the community townhall searching for some community leaders including Otoka.
The soldiers’ action has sparked protest from community women and youths in Okpare-Olomu town.
