By Cynthia Eruotor
Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas representing the good people of Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly has expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for their magnanimity as the detained Monarch of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty King Clement Ikolo has regained freedom.
Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence made this known in a chat with our correspondent in Warri after the release of the Monarch.
According to Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, the release of the Monarch is a pathway to the restoration of peace in the area adding that ,his(Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas) visit along with the duo of Senator Ede Dafinone,(Delta Central) and Senators Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and intervention of other stakeholders, no doubt, led to the release of the Monarch.While expressing implicit confidence in the military hierarchy at looking at the remote causes of the killing of 17 military officers in Okuama Community, Senator Joel Onowakpo hoped that there would be amicable resolution of the matter.
It was learnt that at 11 am yesterday (19th, 2024) the military authority released the Monarch to Senator Ede Dafinone with understanding that the Senator will make the Monarch available should they need his(Monarch’s) attention. It was gathered that the Monarch was in good spirit as his wife and other family members surrounded him when the military briefed journalists before his release.
Recall that the Monarch was one of those declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on March 14th 2024 in the aftermath of the Okuama/ Okoloba crisis that led to the death of soldiers and civilians( women and children) and he submitted himself to the Police to assist in the investigation.
Then of course, three Delta Senators on Tuesday, had met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa, to seek 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 in the area.