The Nigerian Army’s top general, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, in a decisive and conciliatory gesture, ordered the release of Clement Ikolo, the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, who had previously been detained.
In a media briefing held in Abuja, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja revealed that the decision to release the embattled Clement Ikolo, traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, was made following a thorough investigation that did not yield enough evidence to support the ruler’s detainment.
The recent events in Delta State took a tragic turn when seventeen Army personnel lost their lives in an ambush at Okuama, a community embroiled in an ethnic crisis with neighboring Okoloba. The deadly incident prompted a swift response from the Army, with authorities vowing to apprehend and bring to justice those responsible, including King Clement Ikolo, who was deemed a suspect in the attack. The Army’s resolve was made clear during the solemn burial of the fallen soldiers, as they pledged to punish all those complicit in the heinous crime.
In an act of both courage and vindication, King Clement Ikolo came forward and surrendered himself to the authorities, declaring his innocence in the killings. The King’s surrender and subsequent claim of innocence added a layer of complexity to the case, as the Army now faced the delicate task of assessing the veracity of his assertions while balancing the demands of justice and community relations.
The release of King Clement Ikolo from custody came at the behest of the chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, who delegated the task to Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations. In a carefully orchestrated move, Nwachukwu released the monarch to Senator Ede Dafinone of Delta Central Senatorial District, following concerted efforts by the Governor of Delta State and other government officials who interceded on behalf of the king.