Three senators representing Delta North, South and Central Senatorial districts, Senator Ned Nwoko, Senator Ede Dafinone and Senator Thomas Joel Onowakpo, have appealed for the release of the detained traditional ruler of Ewu- Urhobo kingdom, His Majesty, Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo, Urhukpe 1 in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state over Okuama deaths.
The senators who discountenanced their different political affiliations, made the appeal today, Wednesday 17th April 2024, when they met with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, in Abuja at Defence Headquarters.
The detained monarch was among the eight persons declared wanted by the military authorities for their alleged involvement in the March 14 tragic incident in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The monarch had surrendered himself to the security authorities, first to the police in the state before he was transferred to the military where he was detained after being declared wanted following the alleged killings of 17 Nigerian Army personnel at Okuama community.
Perhaps worried by the plight of the traditional ruler in military detention and the need for a lasting peace in the affected community, the three senators appealed for the release of the traditional ruler as “his continued detention risks exacerbating tensions within Delta.”
Senator Nwoko, who led the delegation, said he was deeply concerned about the Okuama tragedy and called for calm and cooperation from all quarters in unravelling and addressing the remote and immediate causes.
He noted that there were fruitful deliberations on other issues such as the Onicha-Olona community incident, in Aniocha North Local Government Area where an illegal arms factory was discovered, and appreciation and request for further support as well as “bringing attention to the underlying issues highlighted by this discovery – the need to grow indigenous technologists and our technology sector; as well as the construction of new headquarters for the 63 Brigade in Delta state.”
SpyeTV News reports that following the Okuama tragedy, the military authorities have not only occupied the community, they have also constituted a panel of inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of the officers and soldiers allegedly by some youths of the Okuama community.