HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1
The embattled traditional ruler of Ewu-Urhobo kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1, who surrendered himself to the police on Thursday over the killings of 17 soldiers in his domain, has been transferred to Abuja for interrogation.
After being taken into custody by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Abaniwonda, on Thursday night, the monarch was handed over to the Brigade Commander of the 63 Brigade Nigerian Army in Asaba, Brig. Gen. Ughochukwu Vitus Onachukwu, following proper documentation procedures.
In the early hours of Friday, the monarch was transported in a military motorcade to the Asaba International Airport, where he boarded a commercial flight to Abuja, accompanied by a team of detectives led by an unnamed military officer holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The monarch, who had maintained his innocence, is among eight individuals declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja in connection with the killing of the troops in his domain on March 14th.
Okuama, the site of the bloody massacre, is one of the 17 communities under the authority of the monarch, who ascended the throne on November 16th, 2024, amid opposition from various groups, including militants and rival claimants to the throne.
In addition to the monarch, the seven other individuals on the wanted list include the president-general of Okuama community, Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, a notorious militant kingpin in the waterways of Bayelsa and Delta State, Akevwru Daniel Omotegboro, alias Amagbein, and some of his gang members, including Reuben Baru, Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Adaowei Dennis Bakiri, and a woman named Igoli Ebi.
The 16 soldiers, including the Commanding Officer of the 118 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Bomadi, Lt. Col. A. H. Ali, Major S.D. Shafa, Major D.E. Obi, and Captain U. Zakari, were on a peacekeeping and mediatory mission in Okuama when they were murdered by suspected indigenes of the community under circumstances currently under security scrutiny.
While the monarch HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1 has been transferred to Abuja, detectives from the DHQ are intensifying their manhunt for the remaining seven suspects. Efforts are underway to trace and recover all arms and ammunition seized from the murdered soldiers by the perpetrators, as ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The deployment of detectives to track down the suspects is being coordinated by the Directorate of Defence Intelligence (DIA), headed by Major Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye. The ongoing cordon and search operations in the coastal communities of Bayelsa and Delta states are aimed at complementing the efforts to apprehend the culprits and recover the missing weapons.
The military authorities have assured law-abiding residents of these communities that they can go about their lawful daily activities without fear of molestation or intimidation, urging community leaders and leaders of thought to cooperate and assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.