Following his apprehension by the Nigerian military around a month ago, it is reported that Clement Ikolo, the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Delta State, location been has been kept hidden from his family and friends.

The Ewu-Urhobo Traditional Council of Chiefs Secretary, Abizor Henry, issued a statement in which he indicated that the monarch’s counsel had attempted to arrange for the family members to see him, but the request had been denied.

“Shockingly, efforts made by the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom, family members and friends of the monarch in Nigeria and abroad to reach him have been abortive, leaving people wondering why someone who voluntarily surrendered himself to the security forces and has been commended by the Chief of Defence Staff for doing such an honourable thing, has not been allowed to see or talk to his subjects, family members or friends.

“His lawyer, Ama Etuwewe (SAN), has made a written request dated April 2, 2024, for access to see his client with a family member, but this access has not been granted to date,” the statement read.

Shortly after being listed as wanted by Defense Headquarters in relation to the deaths of 17 military members in the state’s Okuama town, the king turned himself in to the police and was given over to the military.

But Henry also described Ikolo’s stormy accession to the throne in his statement titled “True story of the arrest of monarch of Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom over Okuoma killing.”

It was reported that the king faced strong resistance from other aspirants who asserted their right to run for the throne.

According to the statement, these individuals pledged to thwart his ascension even after the traditional rulers’ committee confirmed his nomination.

“A few weeks before the handover of staff of office ceremony, the monarch attempted to enter the headquarters of the kingdom Ewu-Otor to meet with his people, but the opposition figures got wind of the information and immediately mobilised their supporters armed with various weapons to barricade access to the kingdom.

“The monarch, on getting wind of their plans, contacted the Nigerian Police Force to mobilise their men to the kingdom to maintain law and order but this was rebuffed by the opposition armed supporters who vandalised the vehicles of the Nigerian Police Force and vehicle of those sent ahead by the monarch,” the statement added.

The monarch was rumored to have taken a medical vacation overseas throughout the back and forth, arriving back on February 23, 2024.

It was reported that he was in the midst of mediating a dispute between enraged parties when the military officers were killed.

“The monarch, on hearing of the heinous murder of the 17 military men at Okuoma community, did not delay in condemning the dastardly act, through a press statement, while requesting that the government go after the perpetrators of this heinous crime against the Nigerian Army and Nigeria at large

“The monarch woke up in the morning hours of March 28, 2024, to surprisingly see in the news media that he had been declared wanted by the military, without any prior invitation from any of the government security agencies.

“The monarch, on seeing the news, issued a press statement declaring his innocence and voluntarily surrendered himself to the Delta State Commissioner of Police for interrogation to clear his name.

“The police in the morning hours of March 29, 2024, handed him over to the military, who flew him to Abuja. Since that day, he has been in the custody of the military,” the statement added.

It called for the monarch’s immediate release from custody and voiced concerns about his health.