One individual among the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in connection with the killing of 17 military personnel in Okuama community, Delta State, has surrendered himself.

Clement Ikolo, the King of Ewu Kingdom in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday, turned himself in to the authorities by going to the state police command.

Before turning himself in, the monarch spoke to Galaxy TV, saying he was shocked and surprised to see his name among the list of persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters.

He said, “It is a shock to me because I have no hands in such things. I don’t believe in anything that has got to do with truncating the lives of human beings.

“I am not in any way shape or form connected to this. Let it be stated clearly here that I haven’t been able to access the kingdom even as a monarch till date.”

The monarch said he received his staff of office on November 16, 2023.

The monarch reportedly arrived at the state police command headquarters on Thursday evening to report himself to police commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda.

The Delta State Police Command confirmed to Channels TV that the monarch was in their custody.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters on Thursday morning declared eight people wanted over the gruesome killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State on March 14, 2024.

This was announced in a circular issued by the Defence Headquarters via its verified social media platforms which identified the suspects as follows: 1. Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (a.k.a Amagbem, 2. Prof. Εkpekpo Arthur, 3. Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, 4. Igoli Ebi, 5. Akata Malawa David, 6. Sinclear Oliki, 7. Clement Ikolo Oghenerukevwe and 8. Reuben Baru.

The images contained in the circular show that seven out of the suspects are men with only one woman.

SaharaReporters had reported how President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on the deceased military personnel on Wednesday during their burial in Abuja.

The President also announced the provision of housing facilities for the surviving family members and scholarships for all their children, up to the university level.

He also directed the payment of death benefits to the family members within 90 days.

Tinubu posthumously conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger on the Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt. U Zakari (N/16348).

The President conferred the honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger on Sgt Yahaya Saidu; Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabiru Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sola Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu and Pte Adamu Ibrahim.