Nigerian Army has said it does not have a complete information of possible culpability to hold the Monarch of Ewu Kingdom responsible for the killing of 17 military personnel on March 14, 2024 at Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.

The Army while releasing the detained Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Clement Ikolo, said at a brief ceremony at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja on Friday that there is also no sufficient evidence to exonerate anyone yet over the mass killing of the soldiers by non state actors.

According to the Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Monarch was declared wanted alongside others because of possible culpability since the crime was committed within his kingdom.

The Army released the Monarch to the senator representing the senatorial district on the ground that the Royal Father maybe made available if needed. 

Responding, the Royal Father, Clement Ikolo who wept and melted into the arms embrace of his wife with likely signs of battling to control tears from his face, thanked the personnel of the Nigerian Army for taking good care of him at the detention facility.

The Monarch said the commanding officer at the detention facility was very amazing and thanked all other personnel at the facility for looking after him.

Prior to his release, Senators from Delta state led by Senator Ned Nwoko together with his colleagues; Senator Ede Dafinone and Senator Thomas Joel-Onowakpo visit the Chief of Defense Staff in Abuja among other things seek for the release of the Ovie of Ewu Urhobo, Clement Ikolo, Urhukpe 1 who was declared wanted by the military authority over the killing of 17 Military personnel in Okuama who later turned himself to the authority

We had earlier reported that the Royal father among the eight persons declared wanted by the Nigeria Defence Headquarters allegedly connected to the mass killing of soldiers at Okuama Community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on March 14, 2024 has submitted himself to the police and he has since been handed over to the military by the Nigeria Police Force.

The Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Clement Ikolo, the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, in a video broadcast before he handed himself to the police, said, he has no connection with the killing of the soldiers and as a christian he condemned the act of taking the life of another.

It was gathered that the traditional ruler submitted himself to the police same day he was declared wanted by the Nigeria Defence Headquarters.

“To my greatest surprise, I saw my name in the list of persons declared wanted in connection with this heinous crime, it is a shock to me because I do not believe in anything that has to do with truncating the lives of human beings.

I am not in any way shape or form connected to this.

Let it be stated clearly that even as a monarch, I have not been able to access the kingdom to date.

I got my staff in office on the 16th of November, 2023. Prior to getting my staff of office, it is being turbulence and to my greatest surprise, I saw my name on the list of persons wanted in connection with this heinous crime”, the royal father, Clement Ikolo stated in quote.

It would be recalled that on March 14, 2024, officers and soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion were killed by armed group. According to the military, the soldiers were on a peacekeeping mission in the Okuama community.

Okuama and Okoloba communities in the state have been embroiled in a lingering land dispute since 2023.

The Monarch was said to have arrived the Delta State Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force at 6:41pm, presented himself to the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military  disclosed that it may place a bounty on suspects connected to the killing.

The funeral rites for the slain soldiers took place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferring National Honours Awards posthumously on the slain soldiers.

Other persons declared wanted and yet to be captured or surrendered themselves included Professor  Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo, aka Amagben, Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Reuben Baru and Igoli Ebi.

Bright Edafe, the Delta State police spokesperson, according to Punch Newspaper, confirmed in Asaba, the Delta State capital that the monarch submitted self and he has been handed over to the military.

“Yes, the monarch reported yesterday and this morning he was handed over to the military”, Edafe sated in quote.

Meanwhile, Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has termed the decision of the Defence Headquarters to declare 8 persons wanted over the gruesome murder of 17 soldiers in Okuama Delta State as illegal.

Kicking against the move in a post via his official X account on Thursday, Effiong suggested that the manhunt for those responsible for the killing of the 17 military personnel should be handled by the police.

He said that it was illegal to declare anyone wanted without a court order, adding that if the Armed Forces suspected them of their involvement in the murder of the soldiers, they should have passed the information to the police for investigation.

He wrote, “This should be handled by the police, not the military. We keep bastardizing our institutions. These individuals are not members of the Armed Forces and therefore not subject to Service Law. It is illegal to declare anyone wanted without a court order.

“If the Armed Forces is suspecting them of murder or other offences, they should have passed the information to the police. “This gestapo behavior has to end”.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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