Jonathan Nwokpor
Itsekiri leaders under the aegis of the Ugbarajo Iwere Leaders Foundation (UILF), have charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) with apprehending individuals who attacked Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, at Okere Community in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Saturday.
They stated the attack on the monarch by a group of young people was uncalled for, even if they condemned the crime.
The foundation supported the monarch during the UILF’s emergency meeting on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State.
Hon. Emmanuel Orugbo, a foundation’s publicity committee member, made the position public while addressing journalists on Wednesday following the meeting. He urged young people in the Warri kingdom to engage in profitable endeavours to lessen their vulnerability to restlessness and exploitation by resentful members of society.
“This group of people have for the past one year been terrorizing the Okere community with the idea of advancing their ideology of rejecting the successful succession of the 21st Olu of Warri to the throne.
“While we agree that minorities, and in the extant case, most micro-minorities can have their say, their say has to be within the ambit of the law.
“These old men, who present themselves as youths, cannot be allowed to continue to run riot the way they have been doing for the past two years.
“We recall that this group of ‘youths’ has, on multiple occasions in the past, attacked, injured and damaged the properties of persons they perceive to hold any contrary views to theirs.
“The attacks, which have resulted in a couple of lawsuits that are still pending in court, have successfully established a regime of fear in the Okere people who cannot, for this reason now, sleep well at night; their economic lives having gone down the drain.
“We find it bizarre that this group of people could develop the boldness to attempt to disrupt the visit to the community of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri kingdom.
“Even though their attempt was unsuccessful, as a foundation, we shall work with all well-meaning sons and daughters of Warri kingdom to identify and encourage that every possible sanction within the law be meted to the culprits to ensure that such deviant behaviours are completely discouraged in the future,” he vowed.
He stated further that: “We remain unflinchingly supportive of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, the Olu of Warri, who remains a pride not just to Warri kingdom but to Delta State and Nigeria in general. We call for respect for the rule of law and the traditional institution.”
In connection with the attack on the Olu of Warri, four people have been arrested and charged in court.
The accused were charged with four counts of terrorism, cybercrime, and conspiracy, including attempted murder, before the Federal High Court in Warri. Their charge number was FHC/WR/18c/2024.
However, the case was postponed until April 2, 2024, and the four defendants were remanded at the Warri Correctional Facility.
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