Edewor Makes Case For Ekpekpo, Faults Militarised Responses To Niger Delta Grievances

By Moses Darah

The 119th inaugural lecturer of Delta State University, Abraka, Rev. Can. Prof. Uyoyou Nelson Oghenefejiro Edewor, has criticised the use of military force in addressing what he described as legitimate community grievances in the Niger Delta.

Delivering his inaugural lecture titled, “Where God and mortals meet: Nelson Edewor’s odyssey of recontextualised Ivri corpus in a nation soiled by oil”, Edewor argued that militarised responses to local agitations often deepen tensions rather than resolve the underlying issues affecting oil-producing communities. He cited the recent Okuama incident and expressed concern over the continued detention of Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, who he said has been held for about 17 months without trial in connection with security complications arising from oil-related conflicts.

According to the cleric and scholar, the prolonged detention of Ekpekpo highlights the need for strict adherence to due process, dialogue, and community-centred approaches to conflict resolution in the region.

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Edewor also paid tribute to what he described as the “fallen heroes” of the Niger Delta, remembering victims of past tragedies including the Jesse fire disaster of October 17, 1998, and those affected by recurring oil spills, gas flaring and other forms of unprofessional practices across the region. He urged authorities to end what he termed security excesses that have led to loss of lives and deepened mistrust between communities and the state.

He called for justice, inclusive engagement, and sustainable development policies that address the environmental and socio-economic concerns of Niger Delta communities, stressing that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through fairness, accountability, and respect for human rights.