The fate of children, families and community leaders caught in the aftermath of the March 2024 crisis in Okuama, Delta State, took centre stage in London as the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) called for urgent action over what it described as the continued suffering of the community.
At its 14th Conference held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Bexleyheath, London, UHS President, Dr. Aruegodore Oyiborhoro, said the people of Okuama had continued to live with the painful consequences of the crisis, including displacement, loss of homes and disruption of education.
“For the children, the crisis is not just about what happened in 2024. It is about a future interrupted by the loss of stable access to education,” Oyiborhoro said.
He said many families were still struggling to rebuild their lives after homes, schools, livelihoods and other critical infrastructure were allegedly destroyed during the military operation that followed the killing of soldiers in the community.
“Families were forced to flee, and many residents remain displaced and without adequate support. The people of Okuama deserve justice, dignity and the opportunity to rebuild their lives,” he said.
The UHS president also raised concerns over the continued detention of several community leaders, saying their fundamental rights and due process must be respected.
“We are calling for the immediate release of the detained community leaders and for the relevant authorities to address the concerns surrounding their detention,” he said.
Oyiborhoro also referred to the reported death of Pa James Oghoroko in military custody and the release of Pa Dennis Okugbaye after he reportedly became critically ill while in detention.
He appealed to international human rights organisations, global leaders and advocates of justice to intervene, saying the allegations surrounding the Okuama crisis should be independently investigated.
“Where wrongdoing is established, there must be accountability,” he added.
Those mentioned as among the detained community leaders include Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, President-General of Okuama; Chief Belvis Adogbo; James Oghoroko; Dennis Okugbaye; Dennis Malaka; and Mabel Owhemu.
Oyiborhoro spoke during the UHS conference held from July 24 to 25, 2026, where Urhobos in Nigeria and the diaspora gathered to discuss the preservation of their history, culture and identity.
While the gathering celebrated Urhobo heritage, the situation in Okuama provided a sobering reminder of the human cost of conflict and displacement.
The UHS president said the conference was an opportunity for Urhobos to remember their history and confront the challenges threatening their collective future.
“The conference is more than an academic gathering. It is an opportunity for Urhobos to remember who they are, where they came from and what they must preserve for generations yet unborn,” he said.
Oyiborhoro said the Society would continue to document Urhobo history and challenge what it considered distorted narratives, adding that documented truth remained essential to the preservation of the people’s heritage.
He called for stronger unity among Urhobos, greater investment in scholarship, the digitisation of historical records and increased efforts to promote the Urhobo language among younger generations.
According to him, urbanisation, globalisation, generational gaps and digital misinformation were posing serious challenges to cultural preservation.
“The answer is deliberate and collective action. We cannot afford to lose our language, our history or our identity,” he said.
The conference featured the launch of The Warri Crises, the eighth monograph of the Society, and the presentation of awards to distinguished Urhobo sons and daughters.
It also attracted prominent personalities, including immediate past President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union, Olorogun Moses Taiga; the Odio r’Ode of Uwheru Kingdom, HRH S.S. Obruche; the Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka, HRH Ochuko Ararile; and Hon. Rev. Francis Waive, among others.
As the conference ended, Oyiborhoro said the concerns over Okuama could not be separated from the larger question of justice, dignity and the future of the Urhobo people.
“For us, history is not just about the past. It is a living force that shapes who we are and what we must become,” he said.