LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin - Urhobo society donates relief materials to returnees
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp for residents of Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State is ready, Chairman of the Ewu IDP Camp and Management Committee, Abraham Ogbodo, said yesterday.
Ogbodo said the IDP camp would be officially opened by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Saturday
The committee, among other things, is to manage displaced persons at the camp as well as resettle and rehabilitate them following the military invasion, which resulted in the total destruction of the agrarian community.
In the aftermath of the killing of 17 military men by gunmen in the area, the riverine community was invaded and destroyed by angry soldiers.
Meanwhile, distressed residents returning from nearly two months in creek hideouts have received relief materials from the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS), United States of America.
The items would ease the agony of restoring their livelihoods and destroyed homes.
The community leaders were on hand to receive the relief materials ranging from basic food items to cooking utensils, cutleries, toiletries and clothing. The donor body urged other individuals and organisations to join the Okuama restoration task ‘which is enormous to be left for government and community indigenes alone’.
President of the UHS, Dr. Aruegodore Oyiborhoro, who presented the items at the Iwhre-Okpe Waterside through an interface, Egufe Yafugborhi, en route boat conveyance to Okuama, said the choice of items was based on feedback from the people on what was needed.
He said: “The story of Okuama is known to the world. No need retelling it here. With their homes completely wiped out, the community made a wasteland, the feedback we got meant the UHS had to buy items as basic as cutleries, toothbrushes, paste, cooking pots, plates, clothing, toiletries, added to the rice, beans, garri, salt and sundry basic food items.
“The case of Okuama is the clear definition of starting from the scratch with not even a piece to pick up from in the task of rehabilitation and resettlement. That is why this little effort by the UHS is not to prove any point, but to tell the world that Okuama needs a great deal of help.
“We call on individuals and organisations to join the Okuama people and government to assist in rebuilding their lives. Okuama cannot go into extinction. From our assessment of their plight, the people also need security as they are so vulnerable at the moment, bearing in mind the experience on their first day of return home. Hopefully, they will gradually find their feet again.”
Receiving the items on behalf of the community, Jacob Akemor, leader among Okuamas living away from home, said: “We can’t thank the UHS enough. Earlier while the many displaced folks were rudderless and suffering in creek hideouts, a prominent member among the predominantly US based leaders of the society, Michael Egi, sent reliefs.
“As we return home following the military withdrawal from our land, UHS becomes the first donor to send relief materials. We are grateful as the goodwill gives us much hope to pull through these challenging times.
“We have no shelter, no water to drink, no food, no clothes. Nothing. Our spirit is lifted with the UHS gesture and we want others to emulate their effort to help us out.”
Governor Oborevwori last week announced that the people of Okuama could return to their ancestral land following the withdrawal of the military from the area.
