Posted by In a move coordinated by the Ugbarajo Iwere Leaders Foundation (UILF), leaders of the Itsekiri sect have asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to apprehend those responsible for last Saturday’s attack on Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, in the Okere community of the Warri south local government area of Delta State.
They denounced the deed but maintained that the mob’s assault on the king was unnecessary.
The foundation lent its support to the monarch at Wednesday’s emergency UILF meeting in Warri, Delta State.
During an address to journalists on Wednesday following the meeting, Hon. Emmanuel Orugbo, a member of the foundation’s publicity committee, urged the youth of Warri kingdom to pursue productive endeavors so that they would be less likely to be tempted by dissatisfied members of society to be restive and exploitative.
The Okere community has been living in fear for the last year because of this group’s philosophy, which advocates for the rejection of the 21st Olu of Warri’s successful ascension to the throne.
While we do support the right of minorities—and in this instance, the vast majority of micro-minorities—to have a voice, that voice must not violate any laws.
Nobody can stand by and watch these middle-aged men act like kids any longer. They’ve been raving about for two years.
We remember that these so-called “youths” have a history of physically assaulting, verbally abusing, and vandalizing the property of those they perceive as holding opinions that differ from their own.
As a result of the assaults—which have given rise to multiple ongoing lawsuits—the Okere people have learned to live in constant terror; as a result, they no longer have any reason to rest easy, and their economic lives have completely collapsed.
It is strange that these individuals mustered the nerve to try to obstruct the visit to the community of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri kingdom.
“Even though their attempt was unsuccessful, we will continue to collaborate with all the good people of Warri kingdom to find those responsible and make sure that they face the full force of the law. Our goal is to discourage such deviant behavior in the future,” he declared.
The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, is an honor to the Warri kingdom, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole, he added, and we will continue to stand firmly behind him. The rule of law and established institutions must be respected.
The assault on the Olu of Warri has led to the arrest and arraignment of four individuals.
Four counts each of terrorism, cybercrime, conspiracy (including attempted murder), and cybercrime were brought against the defendants in charge No: FHC/WR/18c/2024 at the Federal High Court in Warri.
There was a delay in the case’s adjournment to 2nd April, 2024, and the four defendants are still being held at the Warri Correctional Facility.