A youth protest has erupted in Ubulu-Uku town of Delta State over the kidnap and eventual killing of their first class traditional ruler.
His Royal Majesty, Obi Akaeze Ofulue the III, was held for about two weeks by his abductors but his body was found in the thick bush of Umunede, Ika Local Government Area, on Thursday morning.
The community has been thrown into mourning, while the youths have taken to the streets, stoking fears that this may snowball into lawlessness.
Young men in the area, burning with anger, wielded machetes, and tree branches, venting anyhow they could as they agonised the brutal killing of their Obi.
It all started on January 5, 2016, with reports that the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, was kidnapped while riding with a friend.
On getting eyewitness reports that some suspected Fulani cattle rustlers had kidnapped the Obi and headed for the forest, the Delta State Police Command said that it swung into a swift chase, combing the perimeter around the Igbodo bush, but their best efforts could neither locate nor produce the Obi.
Days later, villagers told the Police, they had located the Obi’s SUV, abandoned along the road side.
On January 20 precisely, the body of the Obi was found, sending anger and sorrow waves across the kingdom.
The police have, however, urged them to remain calm, while promising to hunt down and punish the perpetrators.
In the meantime, the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has condemned the action of the kidnappers and promised to go after those behind the killing of the Monarch and when found will be prosecuted.
This is the first time in the history of the kingdom that an Obi would be kidnapped and killed.
(Channels TV)