Ekpeyes Ask For The Release of Their King
... Says he has done nothing to warrant an arrest
By Eleme Kash
Former Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike seen with the Eze Ekpeye Loogbo III after the Government recognized him as the rightful occupant of the stool. Now the police has not said why the natural ruler who received an invitation cannot return to the troubled kingdom.
As more and more people in the Ahoada East Local Government Area are being questioned by Police investigators over the murder of SP Bako Angbashim, the Ekpeye under the auspices of Ekpeleni Ekpeye are raising questions about the present whereabout of their king.
Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, had received an invitation from the police force, some eminent sons of the area revealed.
He is yet to return home.
Could it be that the natural ruler has been placed under arrest as a suspect? Or is he somehow under protective custody?
The police has not come out in public with incriminating charges against his Royal Majesty.
Ekpeleni Ekpeye which has stepped into the ring has expressed concern over the situation wants the Ekpeye natural ruler back home.
According to a statement signed by the President of the socio-cultural group, Elder Jonathan Robinson Ewoh and the Secretary, Comrade Ogboka Chris Umeda, Ekpeleni Ekpeye referred to what it sees as the unjust and unfair incarceration of the royal father.
“More worrisome is the continued detention of the Monarch of the Ethnic Nation, His Imperial Majesty, Eze (Amb) Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, who was invited as the traditional ruler of Ekpeye Nation where the incident happened, but has not been let go or charged to court for any complicity in the matter.
“To this end, Ekpeleni Ekpeye, the watchdog of the Ekpeye Nation is calling for the immediate release of the traditional ruler of the Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality so that the revered Monarch can come home and administer over the affairs of his people and also be in a position to assist the security agencies in their investigations.”
Whereas it lauded the government and security agencies for the efforts that are being made to arrest the killers, the group said the alleged detention of the Monarch is an embarrassment to the Ekpeye nation.
The Eze Ekpeye Loogbo III: Is the Royal Father helping the police with its investigation or is he under arrest?
The Rivers State had earlier suspended a former council chairman who is the traditional ruler who has jurisdiction in the area where Bako’s killers acted
Police has spread their dragnet as the investigation into the murder of SP Bako at Odiemudie community continues.
Several leads are being followed, according to a police source. Many persons, including people seen as decent persons are being quizzed by investigators.
Presumably, the Ekpeye monarch may possibly be one among so many people who are either answering questions or helping the police with tips that might be useful to the outcome of the investigation.
Recall that the Police has attributed the murder of Bako to the ambush laid at Odiemudie community by Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (also known as 2-Baba) and members of his gang.
An angry Rivers State government in its reaction speedily placed a N100 million bounty on the head of Gift David Okpara and members of his gang.
The group also expressed worry that more than one week after the killing of Superintendent of Police, Bako Angbashim took place, the police is yet to apprehend the killers.