The traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local government area of Delta State, Clement O. Ikolo said he is shocked that the Defence Headquarters has declared him wanted over the slaying of 17 soldiers in Okuama community.
Ikolo who addressed a press conference in Ughelli Thursday before reporting himself to the police, said that he was never a party to the murder of the 17 soldiers, adding that the army should look in the right places and do a thorough investigation.
“I am very surprised that my name as the monarch of the kingdom will appear in the list of wanted persons,” said a statement made available to the press by the monarch.
“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 crime 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 been 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 nothing right now, I have no information, I know nothing I am only just in the process of set up a structure to enable me rule in the kingdom.”
Ikolo was declared wanted by the army Thursday alongside Professor
Ekpekpo Arthur the president-general of the Ewu Community and six others over the March 14 killing of the 17 officers said to be on peace mission to the Okuama community.
