- Grill palace staff – Uzere monarch
FRANCIS SADHERE, WARRI
The recent trend of kidnapping traditional rulers in Delta State is giving all traditional rulers in the state sleepless nights as no one knows who is going to be the next target of the dare-devil kidnappers, who stop at nothing to ensure that their reign of terror permeates the whole state.
The recent kidnapping of the Olomoro monarch, His Royal Majesty Josiah Umukoro Aghaza, shocked many, considering the fact that it happened barely 28 days after the kidnapping and killing of the Ubulu- Uku monarch in Delta North.
All traditional rulers in the state have, therefore, cried out to condemn the recent kidnapping of the Olomoro monarch, calling on the security agents in the state to stand up to the challenge and fish out those responsible for the kidnappings.
They also called for the unconditional release of the monarch, lamenting that the traditional stool was no longer respected. In trying to protect themselves from the hands of these kidnappers, traditional rulers, who can afford to beef up their security outfits, have gone the extra mile to do so, while those who do not have the means are calling on the state government to provide them with extra security.
Residents have also called on the police to beef up security around the state and find an immediate solution to these restless kidnappings of monarchs in the state.
With the recent development, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is now saddled with the responsibility of nipping this ugly trend in the bud before it goes out of hand.
As the chief security officer of the state, the people are looking up to him to solve this mystery so that they can once again put their confidence in his government.
The state governor, who had visited Ubulu-Uku a few days after the news of the murder of the monarch, assured the people that the state government would thoroughly investigate the abduction and killing of the monarch.
While the governor was still contending with the murder of Ofulue III, kidnappers yet again abducted another monarch, putting him and security agencies in the state in a taut spot.
The governor had said, “It was sad that a reigning king was abducted, but the unheard of fact was his murder in the most dehumanising circumstances by his abductors in the forest.
“I have directed an inquiry into this abominable act and called on all Deltans, particularly the kingdom and the security agencies to work harmoniously to unearth the culprits.”
It’s an insider job – Uzere monarch
The Ovie of Uzere Kingdom, HRM Henry Ukenukpepia Etuwede III, who spoke with our correspondent on telephone called on security agents in the state to beam their searchlights inside the palaces of the kings that were kidnapped.
He noted that nobody could come from outside the palace to carry out a successful operation without the collaboration of someone inside the palace.
He said, “Well, what I believe is that for such things to happen, an insider must be involved. Nobody can come to your palace and kidnap you if an insider is not involved. It is not that easy for somebody outside to come into your house and kidnap you without somebody from your house opening the door for them.
“Again, if you
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