By Milcah Tanimu
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has accused monarchs in Okuama and neighboring communities in Delta of complicity in the murder of 17 Nigerian Army personnel.
Suspected residents of Okuama ambushed and killed military personnel on March 14, including a commanding officer and other ranking officers, during a response to a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State.
The Defence Headquarters declared eight suspects wanted over the incident, including the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom, Clement Ikolo, who has surrendered himself to the police and was taken to the Nigerian army Headquarters in Abuja for questioning.
However, the Traditional Rulers Council of Chiefs in Ewu-Urhobo, Delta State, called for Ikolo’s immediate release, denying involvement in the communal crisis that led to the soldiers’ murder.
Responding to the monarchs’ stance on Arise TV, the CDS insisted that Urhobo monarchs from the warring communities could not deny involvement in the soldiers’ killings.
He emphasized that the communities knew about the criminal activities and remained complicit, suggesting that some benefited from such acts. The CDS stressed that investigations would reveal the extent of involvement in the killings.
