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    Senator Joel-Onowakpo Expresses Appreciation to Nigerian Army for Showing Understanding ……… As Ewu Monarch Regains Freedom

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    Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas

    The Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for showing understanding, as the detained monarch of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty King Clement Ikolo, regains freedom.

    Speaking to our correspondent in Warri, immediately after the release of the monarch, Senator Joel-Onowakpo, said the release of the monarch remains a a major boost in the move to restoration of peace in the area.

    He said that the visit of the trio of Senator Representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, Senators Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and himself, Senator Joel-Onowakpo-Thomas (Delta South) and intervention of other stakeholders, paved way for the release of the monarch.

    He expressed implicit confidence in the military hierarchy towards amicable resolution of remote causes of the killing of the 17 officers and soldiers in Okuama Community.

    It was gathered that the monarch was released to Senator Ede Dafinone by the military authority at about 11am today (19th April, 2024),with understanding that the senator will make the king available should his attention be needed.

    The Monarch who is in good spirit, according to impeccable sources, was surrounded by his wife and other family members as during the military briefing of journalist before his release.

    It would be recalled that three Delta senators on Tuesday, had met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa, seeking the release of the monarch, whom they believe may not be connected to the crisis that claimed the lives of the soldiers and some civilians.

    The King was one of those declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on March 14th 2024 in the aftermath of the Okuama crisis leading to the death of soldiers and civilians including women and children and he submitted himself to the police to assist in the investigation. Details shortly…..

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    Delta Land Dispute; Group Dares Okpamam Indigenes To Appear At Force CID Area 10, Abuja. A group, South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI), has challenged indigenes of Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government area to visit Nigeria Police Force CID, Area 10 Abuja, to submit relevant documents relating to its ownership claim of the disputed land with Issele-Azagba people in Aniocha North Council area of Delta state. The group who expressed concern that the Okpanam Indigenes who had been the aggressors since the land dispute started about 3years ago have not deem it fit to visit the Force CID Area 10 Abuja to tender necessary documents to prove its ownership claim since the matter was transferred to Abuja, described their failure to do so as irresponsible and an act of cowardice. It would be recalled that following an alleged bias of some senior police officers at the Delta state Police Command, Asaba, in handling the matter, some displeased stakeholders in the case had to petition the Force Headquarters and the matter was subsequently transferred to the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun’s office. It was gathered that based on the violence and killings recorded over the disputed land, including the two policemen murdered 3years ago and three youths killed early this year, IGP Egbetokun, personally directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG CID), Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, to investigate the matter and bring to justice those responsible for the killings of his men and the youths. Reacting to the deliberate efforts by the Okpanam indigenes to frustrate the process of investigations by falling to appear before DIG Alabi at the Force CID Area 10 Abuja, SSPTI in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie, yesterday, noted that its obvious that the Okpanam indigenes do not have any document to prove their ownership case on the disputed land. According to the statement; “As a follow up to our earlier statement where we made it loud and clear that the Okpanam indigenes who had been the aggressor to the Issele-Azagba people of Aniocha North, over the land in question, do not have any document to prove their ownership, we have also discovered efforts by the same people to frustrate the ongoing investigations by not showing up at the Force CID, Area 10 Abuja. “We have carried out our independent investigations at the Police Headquarters, and find out that none of the key actors in Okpanam community laying claim to the disputed land have turned up at the place to present documents to back their claim so as to enable the investigating team led by DIG Alabi to carry out the mandate handed over to it by IGP Egbetokun”. “While we find it difficult to understand why none Okpanam indigenes had appeared before the investigating panel in Abuja, we are also concerned how a kingdom that is laying claim to a disputed land cannot present documents to prove its ownership case beyond all reasonable doubts”. “We are therefore using this medium to call on the Okpanam community indigenes to be bold enough and come before the investigating panel and tender the documents relating to their ownership claim of the disputed land area so as to enable the team conclude of the assignment handed to it by the IGP Egbetokun”. “In a situation where they continue to evade appearing before the investigating panel, we want to urge the police to declare wanted the major actors both within and outside their community, as well as some of the senior police officers who had aided them to unleash series of terror that had claimed lives and bring them to justice”, it stated. End.

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