Okuama: Police hand over monarch to military

King of the Ewu kingdom, Clement Ikolo, who is one of the suspects declared wanted by the Nigerian military, has been handed over to the military by the police.

The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed this on Friday.

The monarch was one of the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in connection with the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama community.

He turned himself in to the Delta State Police Command on Thursday.

The monarch arrived at the state police command headquarters at about 6:41 pm, to report himself to Police Commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda.

The monarch spoke to journalists at the police command and insisted that he was innocent of the crime.

He said he was shock when he saw his name on the list of wanted persons in connection with the killing of the soldiers.

He claimed he has no hands in the killings which he described as a serious crime against humanity, and against his faith as a Catholic.

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The other suspects declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki; a traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukeywe; Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

Meanwhile, the 17 soldiers killed were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, 27 March.

They were buried in Abuja on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by President Bola Tinubu and Governors.

Also present at the burial were Speaker of the House of Representatives, service chiefs, among others.