The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has tendered an apology to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, following an invitation extended to him over alleged cases of attempted murder, assault and others.
The monarch was said to have been invited by the Delta State Police Command following a petition allegedly written against the monarch.
Reacting to the invitation by the police, the Palace Secretary, Kenneth Uyebi, said the invitation was the handwork of some miscreants and disgruntled elements in the Itsekiri nation.
According to him, the Warri Area Commander and Assistant Commissioner of Police, has tendered an unreserved apology to the Olu of Warri.
He said, “The very next day, the Area Commander called to apologize to the palace that the letter of invitation on his majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri was sent in error. But I also advised him to cause a letter of retrieval to that effect. His Majesty is law-abiding and encourages all his subjects to be law-abiding.
“If there was an invitation as you said, His Majesty would have honoured it but the Area Command has withdrawn the one they sent in error and has not sent another letter as we speak.
“It is also on record that that very weekend, the Warri Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Abubakar, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, personally came to the palace after his phone calls, to personally tender an unreserved apology to His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, that the letter was sent in error and therefore withdrawn.
“He informed the monarch that after investigations, it was discovered that the monarch had been dragged into what he knew nothing about. We are not saying the Olu of Warri is above the law. He was prepared to honour the invitation but as at the time the letter came, he was not in town.”
Also reacting to the police invitation letter to the Olu of Warri and recent attacks on Okere community, the Chairman of Okere Community Management Committee/Planning Committee, Ugwa Olu, Fred Olomuro, in a statement, said that an attack was carried out on the monarch during his visit to the area.
He identified the attackers as a group of recalcitrant people loyal to a former chief.
Also, two prominent Warri chiefs from Okere community, Koffi Kartey and Wilson Olley confirmed that during the attacks, the entourage of the Olu of Warri was attacked by youths loyal to one of the sons of the soil.
“As part of His Majesty’s schedule of visits across the communities in his domain, on March 2, 2024, the Olu of Warri paid a visit to the community in a very well publicized program of events attended by teeming sons and daughters of the community as well as Itsekiri from all walks of life.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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