Never Knew Kidnapping Will Deteriorate To Killing Of Monarch – Okowa

By Felix Igbekoyi

Correspondent, Asaba

 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has lamented that nobody knew kidnapping would deteriorate to a level where a royal father would be abducted and murdered.

 

He described the passage of the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Obi Ofulue III as shocking and unfortunate.

 

The Governor, accompanied by top government functionaries and politicians who paid a condolence visit to the people of Ubulu-Uku Monday were received at the Obi’s Palace by members of the Obi-in-Council.

 

He assured that security operatives must unmask those involved in the heinous crime that led to his demise.

 

According to Senator Okowa, “this is terrible, this is something nobody prayed for, unfortunately, it has happened, he was one of the promising traditional rulers we had in the state, a peace-builder and all times, you see the royalty in him.”

 

He stated, “it is my prayer and the prayer of all Deltans that the Almighty God will give the people the fortitude to bear this loss for God alone gives peace and may He give you (the people of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom) the peace of mind required to take the next step in going forward.”

 

“The Police have made some arrests and with the State Security Service and other security agencies, they are working to unravel what happened. Our country is being bedeviled by one manner of kidnapping and abduction or the other but, we never knew that it would deteriorate to a level where a royal father would be abducted and murdered.

 

‘’it is very unfortunate but, I have the assurance of the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of Security that they would continue with the investigation and we believe that they will get the culprits.”

 

Governor Okowa called for calm in the community saying, “as we mourn, we must ensure that there is peace in the community, the youths should know that keeping the peace in the community is the best thing our late Royal Majesty would have wished, we must try as much as possible to maintain peace within the community.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the Palace Chiefs, Barr. Joseph Obaze, Secretary to the Obi-in-Council commended the efforts made by Governor Okowa and security agencies to ensure the return of their Obi, observing, “this has never happened in the history of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom and we would like the culprits to be brought to book.”