A community chairman in Delta State has ignited widespread condemnation after allegedly ordering the public assault and humiliation of an indigene who criticised an abandoned road project. The incident involving Lucky Okeremu and Godspower Okedi has sparked serious concerns about freedom of expression in Emevor Community, Isoko North Local Government Area.
According to reports, Okedi was invited by community leadership over a Facebook post questioning the stalled Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) road project and the role of a local facilitator. Witnesses say that shortly after he honoured the invitation on Wednesday, he was beaten, forced to lie face down on the ground, and repeatedly flogged with sticks while the assault was recorded and shared widely on social media.
The barbaric treatment has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. President of the Isoko National Youth Assembly Worldwide, Eniwake Orogun, strongly condemned the act, stating that no one has the right to treat another person in such a dehumanising manner. He confirmed that police authorities have invited all parties to the Area Command in Ozoro, with further actions expected following a meeting.
Emevor President General Emmanuel Erezih also denounced the attack unequivocally. He emphasised that no online post, regardless of its content, justifies such treatment, describing the actions as unacceptable and out of place in the community.
The incident has triggered public outrage, with many residents and observers demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the chairman and involved executive members. As the case unfolds, it highlights deeper issues of governance, accountability in community projects, and the need to protect citizens’ rights to voice concerns over abandoned infrastructure developments in the Niger Delta re