OGHARA – The Chairman of Oghara Centre for Justice and Development, Rev. David Ugolor has called on president Muhammadu Buhari to constitute an Independent panel of inquiry  to investigate the activities of 18 Batallion, Nigerian Army, Koko under the leadership of Lt. Col.  Aminu Umar over the extra judicial killing of comrade Benson Ogedegbe, the arrest and torture of peaceful protesters and the militarisation of Oghara community.
He made the call yesterday in Benin City while addressing a press briefing to expose the   excesses of men of 19 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Koko in Delta State.
Speaking further, he said sequel to the world Press Conference organized by HRM UKU OGHARANAMEN OREFE III, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom on the extra judicial killing of Comrade Benson Ogedegbe, the chairman of Oghara Vigilante Group by men of Nigerian Army attached to 19 Battalion stationed at Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, the Oghara Centre for Justice and Development together with the family of the slain  Comrade Benson Ogedegbe organized a peaceful demonstration and protest within Oghara Community on 30th of June, 2015.
Rev. David Ugolor said “Men of the Nigerian Army attached to 19 Batallion Koko stormed Oghara Community with full force, harassed, intimidated and arrested the protesters, and demonstrators. They also seized all the materials to be used for the demonstration and protest which included flyers and banners”.
“The Oghara Centre for Justice and Development, along with the family of Comrade Benson Ogedegbe and the people of Oghara Community wish  to state here that no amount of threat, intimidation, harassment, or arrest will stop or deter us from fighting to see justice done in this case. We will continue to condemn the action of men of the Nigerian Army, 19 Batallion, Koko for executing Comrade Benson Ogedegbe unlawfully”.
Continuing, “he  said that men of Nigerian Army,19 Batallion Koko have taken it upon themselves to militarise Oghara community and stifle all forms of expression and opposition to the reign of terror and bloodshed which they are perpetrating in Oghara Community and its environs.
“We have decided to take our protests and demonstrations over the extra judicial killing of Comrade Benson Ogedegbe to Asaba where we can engage the relevant authorities. Should we be denied the right to do this, we will proceed to Abuja and let the whole world know  the grave injustice, pain and tears that Oghara Community, nay the family of Mr. Benson Ogedegbe has been exposed to by the excesses of men of 19 Batallion,   Nigerian Army Koko”.
Narrating her ordeal, the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Endurance Ogedegbe said: “men of 19 Batallion shot and killed my husband in broad day light before my very eyes after chasing him around the town for several minutes before he was killed”.
“The Commanding Officer (CO) wants you dead”, these were the words of the soldier that pulled the trigger that killed my husband’, she narrated.
She said her son, Steve was arrested and kept for eight days and framed up with robbery allegation just to get at my husband. They have succeeded in killing my husband, I call on the president of Nigeria and all concerned authority to come to our aid and expose the Army for the injustice done to my family”, She further lamented.