We won’t condone oppression of Nigerians by Military – Senator

The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has declared that the Nigeria Senate will not tolerate military brutalization of Nigerians under any guise.

The Senator made the declaration while reacting to the alleged military manhandling of elderly women of Ovire‘rEku community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state who had protested against PRESCO Oil Company a fortnight ago.

Omo-Agege, who visited the community at the weekend, said it was not the constitutional mandate of the military to brutalize innocent citizens going about a peaceful protest. He added that the military as an institution is meant to protect and defend the integrity of the nation and not license to brutalise citizens.

He condemned the action of the military personnel attached to the oil firm, insisting that he will not allow the oppression of the Urhobo people anywhere in the country.

“It is bad enough for soldiers to brutalise our men and even worse for them to brutalise our women,” he said, promising to take up the matter with the Army authority to ensure that the perpetuators are brought to book.

“On the issue of military brutalization of our aged mothers, I will take it up with the military authority to seek some explanation. We must get to the bottom of this matter and I can assure you that the Senate will not tolerate military brutalising our citizens.

“I can assure you that heads will roll on this matter; nobody has the license to brutalise our citizens under any guise,” Omo-Agege stressed.

While commiserating with the people over the losses suffered, he appealed to the victims of the attack and the community leaders to remain calm, assuring them that he will liaise with his colleagues from Edo State to resolve the issues, adding that Deltans and the Edo people are brothers and one people way back to their days in defunct Bendel State.

His words, “I want to appeal to you to remain calm and don’t take laws into your hands, ensure that the issues do not escalate further than it is now, we will make sure that the matter is resolved peacefully”.

Earlier, spokesman of Ovire’rEku community, Chief Momo Orie and Madam Felicia Emoghene narrated their ordeal in the hands of soldiers attached to the PRESCO Oil company who they alleged have consistently harassed them without provocation over the boundary issue between their community and Edo State.

Senator Omo-Agege had earlier visited the President-General of Eku Development Union, Chief Joe Ukueku and his executives to get first hand information. Chief Ukueku thanked the Senator for his intervention on the land dispute.

It would be recalled that the alleged booting and flogging of the protesters had attracted public outrage with the paramount ruler of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ukori I, in Ethiope East local council area, calling on the Federal Government to call the military to order and also intervene in the land dispute between Edo and Delta states with a view to forestalling inter ethnic clashes.

A few days after the military assault, Eku community declared an 87-year-old woman, Mama Alice Omadefe, who was among the elderly women who protested against the oil company, missing. It is not yet clear if the woman has been found.