A traditional ruler, Clement Ikolo Ogenerukeywe, has been detained by the Delta State Police command in connection with the killing of 17 officers and soldiers of the Nigeria Army 15 days ago.
The state Police Commissioner Abaniwonda Olufemi said Oghenerukevwe, who is the Urhukpe I of Emu Kindom, “turned himself in” shortly after the Defence Headquarters declared him and seven other wanted.
Okuama where the military men comprising a Leutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, and 13 soldiers were gruesomely killed, is a clan in Emu Kingdom
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The other wanted persons include a professor of Physics, Ekpekpo Arthur; Andaowei Bakriri, Akevwru Omotegbo (a.k.a Amagben), Akata David, Sinclear Oliki, Reuben Baru and Igoli Ebi.
Ogenerukeywe’s ascension to the throne was fraught with controversy with many Emu Kindom indigenes embarking on a protest.
The protesters, mainly women, described the approval as unacceptable and sacrilegious, stressing that Oghenerukevwe was not an indigene of the kingdom.
Arthur is the President General of Ewu Kingdom. He is a Professor of Solid State Physics and a member of Nigeria Institute of Physics, Nigeria Association of Mathematical Physics and Science Association of Nigeria (SAN).
The 17 Army personnel were given national burial on Wednesday at National Military Cemetery Abuja with full national honours.
President Bola Armed Tinubu, who in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces attended the ceremony, reiterated that the killers must be brought to book.
Defence Media Operations Director Edward Buba released a banner containing the names and photographs of the wanted persons to reporters in Abuja.
