Itsekiri community leaders, represented by the Ugbarajo Iwere Leaders Foundation (UILF), have urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to identify the suspects responsible for the recent attack on Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, in Okere community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Expressing their condemnation of the incident, the leaders emphasized that the assault on the monarch by a group of youths was unwarranted.
During an emergency meeting held in Warri, Delta State, the UILF voiced their support for the Olu of Warri. Hon Emmanuel Orugbo, a member of the foundation’s publicity committee, addressed journalists following the meeting, urging the youth of Warri kingdom to engage in productive activities to reduce the likelihood of falling prey to restiveness and manipulation by disgruntled elements in society.
Orugbo stated, “For the past year, this group of individuals has been terrorizing the Okere community with the aim of undermining the successful succession of the 21st Olu of Warri.
While we acknowledge that minorities, particularly micro-minorities, have the right to express their opinions, their expressions must be within the boundaries of the law.”
He further highlighted the group’s pattern of attacking and causing harm to individuals whose views differ from theirs, creating an atmosphere of fear and economic decline in the Okere community. Orugbo expressed the foundation’s determination to collaborate with well-meaning individuals from Warri kingdom to identify the culprits and ensure they face appropriate legal consequences, aiming to discourage such deviant behavior in the future.
The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ogiame Atuwatse III, recognizing his significance not only to Warri kingdom but also to Delta State and Nigeria as a whole. They urged respect for the rule of law and the traditional institution.
In related news, four suspects have been arrested and brought before the Federal High Court in Warri on charges of terrorism, cybercrime, conspiracy, and attempted murder related to the attack on the Olu of Warri. The case has been adjourned until April 2, 2024, and the defendants have been remanded at the Warri Correctional Facility.
