Military must return our king’s looted items, Gbaramatu Kingdom tells FG

The people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on the Nigerian military to return items allegedly confiscated from their traditional ruler’s palace during the invasion of their community some months ago.
Troops of the Nigerian Army had ransacked the kingdom in search of an ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
The community has, however, vowed to do all within their powers to ensure the return of the items the military allegedly took away, warning that if the Federal Government failed to prevail on the Army to bring back the items, they would be forced to resort to legal means to retrieve them.
Acting Secretary of the community, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said in a chat with our correspondent in Warri that several months after the military allegedly carted away from Oporoza and other communities in Gbaramatu kingdom items, which included their king’s golden scepter and branded boats, the Army had yet to return them to their rightful owners.
Gbenekama, who spoke on behalf of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs, said, “It’s a shame that the military have become highly ethnicised and taken sides, looking at the South as conquered people. We want the stolen items back, we won’t let it go like that.”
“The people of the Gbaramatu kingdom are ashamed that the Nigerian Army has soiled its hands with pilfering and illegal conversion of people’s property. The military invaded Oporoza and other communities of Gbaramatu and carted away a lot of items.
Our Kings branded boats were stolen by the army and have not returned them till date after several months. “Our ancestral shrine was desecrated and the golden sword, a symbol of authority was stolen. We have written several times to them to return these stolen items but they refused.
“We are left with no choice but to approach a court very soon to sue them for stealing and unlawful conversion. The military has lost its glory and professionalism. They have lost touch with present day rules of engagement. They use brute and crude methods.
“The military needs reorientation and repositioning. They feed on lies and illegality; they oppress the people that they are to protect. If not how can they steal what belongs to a king? What they do down South, they don’t do in the North.  Can they do what they did to our king to the Sultan of Sokoto or Emir of Kano?