The monarch of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRH Clement Ikolo, has been released on bail by the Nigerian Army on Friday, after being held in detention for 21 days, over the death of 17 Nigerian soldiers.
The decision to release the monarch came after three senators of Delta state, Ede Dafinone, Ned Nwoko, and Joel Onowakpo-Thomas, intervened. HRH Ikolo, who is seen disturbingly crying on video, had earlier surrendered himself to the Police after he and 6 others were declared wanted by the Army following the killings of the 17 army personals who allegedly went to the community for peace talks.
Recall that Okuama, an Uhrobo community and Okoloba, an Ijaw community, were alleged to have been having fights and heated confrontations over unclear issues. Unverifiable rumours alleging crude oil finds and conflicting interests of highly placed persons, is suspected to be the root course of the violence, with helpless villagers and unsuspecting military men ending up as casualties
Meanwhile Clement Nwachukwu, the Army spokesman, speaking to newsmen, stated that HRH Ikolo was released because there was no concrete proof linking him to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama. However, Nwachukwu emphasised that the monarch has not been officially exonerated yet.
He said: “Since his surrender, the Nigerian Army has painstakingly reviewed every available information on the incident and has come to some preliminary observations and inferences.
“One of which is that, while culpability has not been conclusively established against the traditional ruler, there is insufficient evidence to exonerate anyone at this stage.
“Nevertheless, on the intervention of Distinguished Sen. Dafinone, representing Delta Central, and his vouching for the monarch’s character, and the fact that the monarch voluntarily turned himself in for questioning, it has been decided that His Highness be released to the Senator.
“He has agreed to act as surety for his release on the condition that he will always assist the army and other agencies of government investigating the Okuama killing incident to have access to the monarch whenever needed.
“The Nigerian Army hereby releases the HRH Clement Ikolo Oghenerukvwe, the king of Ewu Kingdom, to Distinguished Senator Dafinone representing Delta South as a responsible national political figure.”
The burning down of Okuama community and shocking video footages of unsuspecting villagers getting shot at and killed at the jetty by military men, are yet to be officially spoken on nor investigated by independent authorities.
All the more shocking to many observers, where notable social media influencers who egged the Nigerian military on, calling for the genocidal wipe-out of the Niger Delta Urhobo community
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