29th March, 2024
By Edeki Igafe
Mr Clement Ikolo, the traditional ruler of Ewu kingdom, who was among the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters on Thursday over the recent killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama Community in Ughelli South of Delta State is now in custody of the military.
Ikolo was handed over to military authority after he voluntarily surrendered himself to the police after he was declared wanted over the killings, the spokesperson of the Delta Police Command, SP Bright Edafe told journalists on Friday.
He said the embattled royal father, who had surrendered himself to the police command on Thursday in Asaba, was consequently handed over to the military authority on Friday.
Also declared wanted alongside the royal father for the ambush and killing of the 17 soldiers who were on a peace keeping mission to Okuama community on March 14, 2024 were the President- General of Ewu, Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Andaowei Bakriri, Akevwru Omotegbono, Akata David, Sinclear Oghenerukevwe, Reuben Baru and Igoli Ebi.
But Ikolo had earlier on Thursday before surrendering himself to the police, claimed his innocence in the incident.
He expressed shock that his name as the king of the Ewu kingdom would appear in the list of wanted persons.
“I have no hand in the killings, I have no hand in encouraging anybody to kill anybody, it is against my philosophy as a human being and my faith as a Catholic.
“It is a serious crime against humanity and they need to look at the appropriate places and do thorough investigation to know all those who have committed this crime and bring them to book.
“I am not a party to this and I have said earlier, the state government is aware of the turbulence I have been going through.
“As I speak, an arrangement was made by the government to invite those who are fighting me in the kingdom to reconcile the differences before this recent happenings.
“I barely know anything right now, I have no information, I know nothing, I am only just in the process of setting up a structure to enable me rule in the kingdom,” Ikolo said.
(NAN)