*Monarch Says Accorded Fair Treatment, Kept In Decent Facility
THE Nigerian Army, on Friday, April 19, released the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, Clement Ikolo, who had been in detention following the killing of 17 officers and soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State on March 14, this year.
The monarch had surrendered himself to the state Police Command after he was declared wanted, alongside seven other suspects, by the Army in connection with the incident.
Ikolo was handed over the senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.
Briefing journalists on the release of the traditional ruler, Nwachukwu said the Army authorities decided to release him on bail to the senator after preliminary investigation showed no sufficient evidence of of his culpability, even as he stressed, though, that it was also too early to exonerate anyone from the killing.
Nwachukwu said manhunt for those who perpetrated the crime directly, supported or knew about it, was ongoing, recalling that Ikolo, in whose domain the killing took place, surrendered to the Nigeria Police, who in turn handed him over to the Army.
“Since his surrender, the Nigerian Army has painstakingly reviewed every available information on the incident and has come to some preliminary observations and inferences.
“One of which is that while culpability has not been conclusively established against the traditional ruler, there is insufficient evidence, to exonerate anyone at this stage.
“Nevertheless, on the intervention of distinguished Senator Dafinone, representing Delta Central, and his vouching for the monarch’s character, and the fact that the monarch voluntarily turned himself in for questioning, it has been decided that His Highness be released to the senator.
“He has agreed to act as surety for his release on the condition that he will always assist the Army and other agencies of government investigating the Okuama killing incident to have access to the monarch whenever needed.”
Nwachukwu noted that the monarch’s release was in line with the Army’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and justice.
He urged others declared wanted to make themselves available for questioning, assuring that they would receive fair and decent treatment and that anyone found culpable would be strictly subjected to constitutional provisions for handling such cases.
In his response, Ikolo thanked God, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and members of the National Assembly from the state for their support, saying the Army accorded him fair treatment and kept him in a decent facility during his detention.
He promised to support and cooperate with the Army to ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly act were brought to book.
Dafinone, on his part, commended the Army for exhibiting high level of professionalism in the handling of the crisis, attesting to the fact that the traditional ruler was treated with dignity.
