The Defence Headquarters has said that the Delta traditional ruler HRM Clement Ikolo, Urukpe 1, who turned in himself to security agencies after being declared wanted by the military would remain in custody pending investigation.
The Defence Media Operations (DMO) boss, Major General Edward Buba, made the disclosure while responding to questions at the 1st Quarter of 2023 briefing on the activities of troops on the frontline.
The embattled traditional ruler of Ewu-Urhobo kingdom, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, who surrendered himself to the police in Delta State last week over the killing of 17 soldiers in his domain was whisked to Abuja where he is now in custody.
The military high command also disclosed that troops on the frontline have killed 2,351 terrorists and rescued 1,241 kidnapped hostages in the period under review.
According to him, the military would not comment so much on the issue of Delta’s traditional ruler as investigations were on and seven other suspects on the run are being awaited.
“We put out posters of eight persons wanted in connection with the killing and there is a manhunt for those we have declared wanted. One of them, a traditional ruler submitted himself, we wish that others would do the same,” Buba said.
“The situation is that there is a joint investigation team and this team has the police, who is the lead in cases of this nature. The investigation is ongoing.
“I believe that sometings are better left on said now, because it is an ongoing investigation. Any member of the public with information regarding the remaining seven should pass the information to us.”
