By Ken Afor
The detained traditional ruler of the Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo, Urhukpe 1, has reportedly been released by the military.
He was released on Monday morning after spending more than two weeks in detention.
The monarch was detained following the killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.
TheNewDiplomat recalls that the monarch was among the eight persons declared wanted by the military for their alleged involvement in the March 14 incident in Okuama.
Others declared wanted by the military include Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclair Oliki, Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.
Prior to his detention on March 28, the monarch, who spoke at a press conference at his palace, expressed shock and disbelief at being named among the wanted persons by the government.
“The government is sufficiently aware of my position. I am really, really very surprised, I’m taken aback, that my name, as the monarch of the kingdom, will appear in a list of wanted persons,” the monarch stated, visibly distressed by the accusations leveled against him.
While claiming innocence, the monarch declared, “I have no hands in killings. I have no hands in encouraging anybody to kill anybody. It is against my philosophy as a human being and my faith as a Catholic it is against it. This is a serious crime against humanity.”
He called for a thorough investigation to uncover the true perpetrators behind the heinous crimes that have rocked the community.
In response to calls for an investigation, the military has constituted a panel of inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the soldiers allegedly by some youths in the community.
