By Sunday Apah
Two well-known detainees of Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Professor Arthur Ekpekpo and Hon. Belvis Adogbo, have tragically lost their children, Lauretta Ekpekpo and Oghenevwegba Belvis Adogbo, under painful circumstances.
Both children passed away while their fathers have been held in military detention in Port Harcourt for nearly a year without trial, following the events surrounding a military incident in Okuama.
This tragic news was shared in a social media post on Saturday by a Facebook user and an online news outlet.
The Ekpekpo family experienced a devastating blow with the untimely death of their gifted daughter, Lauretta.
While the specific cause of her passing is still unknown, many speculate that it may be linked to the emotional strain resulting from her father’s prolonged and controversial imprisonment.
Grieving sympathizers voice troubling questions, lamenting what could have been prevented.
Lauretta was a vibrant young woman brimming with potential, and her sudden demise leaves a profound emptiness, underscoring the tragic implications of systemic injustice faced by families in similar situations.
While death is a natural part of life, it is heart-wrenching to contemplate how events might have unfolded differently had Professor Ekpekpo been able to care for his daughter.
A father’s presence and support could have made a significant impact during this critical time.
In another heart-wrenching incident, two-year-old Oghenevwegba Belvis Adogbo, the son of Hon. Belvis Adogbo, also passed away from an unknown illness in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The young boy’s death is believed to have been exacerbated by the absence of his father, who would have provided the necessary care and support.
At just one year and five months old, Oghenevwegba was left without his father after Adogbo was arrested in August 2024.
He was detained alongside Professor Ekpekpo and several others in connection with the deaths of 17 military officers near Okuama.
A family member noted, “Master Vwegba became ill and, unfortunately, did not survive long enough to receive medical attention. The burden this has placed on our family is immense.”
They further expressed, “Vwegba might have had a fighting chance if Chief Belvis Adogbo, the family’s primary provider, had been there to seek proper medical care.”
The ongoing detention of Chief Adogbo and other community leaders has severe repercussions for families and the Okuama community as a whole.
A family spokesperson has called on UPU, Urhobos in authority, to intervene and persuade the Nigerian Army to release the detained fathers and mothers, emphasizing the urgent need for justice and compassion in this trying time.
