The President General of Ewu Kingdom, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, who was declared wanted earlier this year by Nigerian Army, has been reportedly arrested by men in military uniforms on Sunday night at an undisclosed location in Sapele. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Two others prominent Okuama leaders, Chief Belvis Adogbo and Dennis Akugbaye, were also arrested on Monday morning by armed men in plain clothes at separate locations in Ughelli. Their arrests have raised concerns within the community, with local leaders speculating that the detentions may be linked to the March 2024 incident in which 17 military personnel were killed.
An Okuama leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the arrests might involve operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), although the exact reasons remain unclear. The leader also expressed uncertainty over the motives behind the sudden roundup of community figures, especially as peace was beginning to return to the area.
These arrests come as the Delta State Government has been making efforts to resettle the displaced residents of Okuama, a community that was razed by the Nigerian Army in retaliation for the March killings. Every structure in the agrarian town, including homes, schools, and hospitals, was destroyed in the aftermath of the military raid.
Meanwhile, security agencies have yet to issue any official statements regarding the arrests. Senior police officers in the area have claimed they are unaware of the developments.
As of the time of this report, the current locations of the detained leaders remain unknown.
Further details are awaited.
