Itsekiri leaders, under the aegis of the the Ugbarajo Iwere Leaders Foundation (UILF), have thrown their weight behind the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, condemning the attack on the Okere community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
At an emergency meeting of the UILF at its Secretariat at Cemetery Road, Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, the foundation condemned, in its entirety, the attack by a group of youths allegedly led by David Iwere, Lucky Esu, Phillip Awani, Austin Lori, and Napoleon Tseke Ogidi on the people of the Okere community.
The foundation charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to fish out other suspects now at large, including their sponsors, and ensure they face the music.
A member of the Publicity Committee of the Foundation, Hon. Oritsetimeyin Emmanuel Orugbo, made the position known while addressing journalists on Wednesday after the meeting.
He said: “This group of people have for the past year been terrorising the Okere Community with the idea of advancing their ideology of rejecting the successful succession of the 21st Olu of Warri to the throne.
“While we agree that minorities, and in the existing case, most micro-minorities can have their say, their say has to be within the ambit of the law.
“These old men, who present themselves as youths, cannot be allowed to continue to run riot the way they have been doing for the past two years.
“We recall that this group of ‘youths’ has, on multiple occasions in the past, attacked, injured, and damaged the properties of persons they perceive to hold any contrary views to theirs.
“The attacks, which have resulted in a couple of lawsuits that are still pending in court, have successfully established a regime of fear in the Okere people, who cannot, for this reason now, sleep well at night; their economic lives have gone down the drains.
“We find it bizarre that this group of people could develop the boldness to attempt to disrupt the visit to the community of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri Kingdom.
“Even though their attempt was unsuccessful, as a Foundation, we shall work with all well-meaning sons and daughters of Warri Kingdom to identify and encourage that every possible sanction within the law be meted to the culprits to ensure that such deviant behaviours are completely discouraged in the future.”
Hon. Orugbo called on young people in the Warri Kingdom to get engaged in fruitful ventures with a view to reducing the temptation of being susceptible to restiveness and usage by disgruntled elements in society.
He stated further: “We remain unflinchingly supportive of His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, the Olu of Warri, who remains a pride not just to the Warri Kingdom but to Delta State and Nigeria in general. We call for respect for the rule of law and the traditional institution.”
Four suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court over an attack on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Okere communities in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State last Saturday.
The suspects were arraigned in charge No. FHC/WR/18c/2024 before the Federal High Court in Warri on four counts of charges of terrorism, cybercrime, conspiracy to wit, attempted murder, and attempted murder.
The case has, however, been adjourned to April 2, 2024,, while the four defendants have been remanded at the Warri Correctional Facility in Okere, Okere, Warri.
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