Following his declaration by the Defence Headquarters as one of the eight wanted persons in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers at Okuoma, the Ovie of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo, Urhukpe 1, has denied any involvements in the gruesome killing of the soldiers’s and has surrendered himself to the police in the state.
Ikolo turned himself in to the Delta State Police Command in Asaba at about 6:57pm on Thursday and was received by the state police commissioner, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi.
The monarch was one of the eight persons the Nigerian military on Thursday morning declared wanted for their role and connection in the gruesome killing of 17 soldiers around Okuama community in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom of Ughelli South.
The royal father was said to have surrender to the police to prove his innocence in the controversy surrounding the murder of the military men in one his communities.
Okuama, an Urhobo community, is one of the over 40 communities under the rulership of the monarch in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom.
Until his emergence as the king of Ewu-Urhobo, Ikolo has been resident in London, United Kingdom, before his selection which was characterized by controversies and his crowning as Ovie of Ewu-Urhobo.
Briefing journalists before surrendering to the police, the monarch denied any involvement in the killing of the soldiers.
He called on the Federal and the Delta State Governments to constitute an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the killing of the military police within the Okuama community of his kingdom.
HRM Ikolo further stated that he decided to present himself to the authority to prove to the Nigerian Government and the international community that he had no hand or connection with those murdered the soldiers.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed to journalists that the monarch has surrendered to the police.
Others declared wanted by the Nigeria Army Defence Headquarters includes Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (a.k.a Amagbem, Prof. Εkpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Igoli Ebi, Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe and Reuben Baru for their alleged involvement in the killing of the soldiers March 14.