Monarch wants adequate security for royal fathers

chika ebuzor

February 1, 2016 6:37 AM

The 99-year-old monarch said that the call was imperative in view of the increasing spate of kidnapping, especially of traditional rulers, in the state.

Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa

Chairman of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council in Delta, Ovie Richard Ogbon, has urged the state government to provide adequate security for traditional rulers in the state.

Ogbon, who is the Ohworode of Olomu in Ughelli North Local Government Area, made the call while interacting with newsmen in his palace on Sunday.

He condemned Friday’s abduction of the Odion-Ologbo of Olomoro, Josiah Umukoro Aghaza I, by unknown gunmen from his palace and called for his immediate release.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that about two weeks ago, the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Akaeze Ofulue, in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, was kidnapped and his decomposing body was discovered four days after.

Ogbon said that it was wrong to kidnap a royal father.

''It is wrong for the kidnappers to kidnap a monarch, a revered king. We have just lost the king of Ubulu-Uku through kidnap, and that portends that our security as traditional rulers is not guaranteed in the state.

''We demand for the immediate and unconditional release of the Olomoro king by his abductors and that security should be beefed up around the kings in the state to forestall recurrence,'' he said.

The monarch warned criminals to desist from kidnapping kings, saying that there were grave consequences in toiling with royalty.

Meanwhile, Police Public Relations Officer in Delta, Celestina Kalu, A Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the captors of the Olomoro monarch had established contact with the family and had demanded N50 million as ransom.

chika ebuzor