Military whisks traditional ruler to abuja over killing of 17 soldiers
The military has whisked the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Clement Ikolo, to Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after surrendering himself to the police, having earlier been declared wanted over alleged killing of seventeen soldiers in Delta State
Penpushing reports that the monarch was reported to arrive at the Delta State Police Headquarters in Asaba at exactly 6:41 p.m. on Thursday and surrendered himself Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda.
The royal father as at the time of filing this report was said to have been been flown in an Air Peace aircraft, which departed at about 9 a.m. on Friday to their headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Penpushing further reports that it was gathered that some top officials of the Nigerian army and those of the police in the state were said to have accompanied the monarch to Asaba International Airport, from where they departed to Abuja.
The Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe as at the time of this report did not confirm the development, while it is recalled that the monarch earlier on Thursday told journalists that he was never involved in the murder of the military personnel.
Penpushing also reports that he said he was surprised that the military authorities declared him wanted over the murder, pointing out that he had been unable to access the community since his installation in November 2023 due to the crisis in the area.
The traditional ruler declared that he was innocent and has no hands on such a thing, explaining that he was not in any shape of form connected to the killing of the military personnel, the traditional ruler emphasised.
Penpushing reports that it is recalled that some suspected residents of the Okuama Community on March 14, 2024, ambushed and murdered the Commanding Officer of 181 Army Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain and 13 soldiers.
The troops it is recalled were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, and in response the Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, declared eight suspects wanted over the murder of the military personnel.
Penpushing further reports that apart from the monarch other suspects declared wanted by the military authorities include Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (a.k.a Amagbem); and Akata Malawa David, as well as Sinclear Oliki, Ogenerukevwe, Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi, the only woman among them.
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