The Nigerian Army has released the traditional ruler of the Ewu kingdom, Clement Oghenerukvwe who surrendered himself in the course of investigations into the killings of 17 military officers in Okuoma, Delta State.
At a brief ceremony at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, handed him over to the Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone.
General Nwachukwu explained that the Army has painstakingly reviewed every available information on the incident, and has come to the preliminary observation, that while the culpability has not conclusively established anything against the traditional ruler, there is insufficient evidence to exonerate anyone at this stage.
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He added that due to the intervention of eminent personalities, and the fact that the monarch voluntarily turned himself in, he has released to Senator Dafinone on the condition that he will always assist in the ongoing investigations.
The Army, however, appealed to other suspects to make themselves available for questioning.
The Military Board of Inquiry was constituted by the Defence Headquarters to investigate the 17 soldiers killed in Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.
The panel commenced sitting April 1, 2024 at the Governor’s Office Annexe in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting, which was scheduled for 2.00 p.m., however, started at about 3.45 p.m. with six stakeholders from the Okoloba Community, Bomadi Local Government Area, in attendance.
