Tensions are escalating in Okuama-Ewu community, situated in the heart of Ewu Clan, Ughelli-South Local Government Area of Delta State. The source of discord? The reluctance of local residents to embrace the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp proposed for their community by the Delta State government.
Last Wednesday saw the return of Okuama-Ewu residents from the shelter of nearby forests, where they sought refuge during a 54-day military siege. However, upon their return, they found themselves in a quandary as the government, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, had earmarked Ewu, the traditional headquarters of Ewu Clan, as the site for the IDP camp. The rationale behind this decision was primarily due to the terrain constraints of Okuama-Ewu.
Despite preparations being made by the IDP camp management committee, under the leadership of former Editor of the Guardian newspaper, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, to set up the camp in Ewu, the unexpected exit of the army from Okuama-Ewu last Wednesday caught both the committee and the government off guard. Residents swiftly moved back to their homeland, vehemently opposing any relocation to the Ewu camp.
Voicing their grievances, residents expressed a strong desire for the establishment of an IDP camp within Okuama-Ewu itself. They cited the urgent need for shelter, especially considering the destruction inflicted upon their homes by the military during the siege. Furthermore, they lamented the pillaging of their farms and fishing traps by neighboring communities, which occurred under the watch of the army.
While the government had hoped to first receive the residents at the Ewu camp before initiating resettlement and rehabilitation plans, the swift return of the residents to Okuama-Ewu has thrown a wrench into those plans.
Meanwhile, preparations at the Ewu camp continue unabated, with Mr. Ogbodo affirming that the camp will be ready for inspection by Governor Oborevwori by the end of the week. Despite uncertainties regarding the exact number of refugees expected, arrangements have been made to accommodate approximately 400 people initially, with the capacity for expansion if needed.
As tensions simmer between the government and Okuama-Ewu residents, the fate of the proposed IDP camp hangs in the balance, awaiting a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
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