Okuama Killing: Delta Monarch handed over to soldiers flown to Abuja

The Ovie of Ewu kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe who surrendered himself to police on Thursday and later handed over to Army on Friday has been flown to Abuja by military authorities over the killing of 17 Soldiers in the Okuama Community.

The monarch was declared wanted along side the president general of Ewu, Prof Ekpekpo Arthur and six others over the alleged killing of 17 soldiers by the Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army. 

He was escorted to the Asaba International Airport by both the Commanding Officer, 63 Brigade Nigeria Army Asaba, the Delta State Police Commissioner and other senior military officers.

He boarded Air Peace Airline and the plane departed Asaba airport tarmac at about 9:10 am to Abuja.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the handing over in a terse text.

Responding to question, Edafe in a text said, ,"Confirmed."

Though, the report was sketchy, it was learned the the Monarch was handed over Friday morning in Asaba.

The monarch on Thursday held a Press Conference briefing where he declared his innocence before submitting himself to the police. 

According to a statement by the traditional in the briefing, "I am very surprised that my name as the monarch of the kingdom will appear in the list of wanted persons.

"I have no hand in the killings, I have no hand in encouraging anybody to kill anybody, it is against my philosophy as a human being and my faith as a Catholic. 

"It is a serious crime against humanity and they need to look at the appropriate places and do thorough investigation to know all those who has committed this and bring them to book and let justice prevail. 

"I am not a party to this and like I have said earlier, the state government is aware of the turbulence I have been going through and as I speak, an arrangement was made by the government to invite the opponents recently just before this happenings.

"To invite those who are fighting me in the kingdom to reconcile the differences and allow me to go into the kingdom and start to rule as the monarch of the place. 

"I have not being able to set up anything, I have not been able to set up my traditional council, I have done nothing in the kingdom.

"So I barely know anything right now, I have no information, I know nothing Iam only just in the process of set up a structure to enable me rule in the kingdom."

As at time of filing the report, we cannot tell what the military intend to do with him.