The Delta State Police Command has transferred the arrested traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe, to the Nigerian military for further investigation.
In a statement to reporters on Friday morning, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the handover, noting that the Nigerian Army had taken custody of the Delta monarch and relocated him to Abuja.
According to Edafe, Oghenerukevwe, also known as the Urhukpe I of Emu Kingdom, surrendered himself to the police on Thursday evening after being declared wanted by the military high command earlier that day, along with seven others, in connection with the alleged killing of 17 army officers and soldiers.
“We have already handed him over to the military, they were the ones that declared him wanted,” Edafe stated.
Prior to turning himself in, the traditional ruler addressed the media, vehemently denying any involvement in the murder of the army personnel.
“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,” Oghenerukevwe stated.
“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 have committed this and bring them to book and let justice prevail.“
He further emphasized his innocence and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and ensure justice prevails.
“I am not a party to this, and as 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,” he added.
