The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reportedly tendered an unreserved apology to Delta State first-class monarch Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, over an invitation to question him regarding alleged cases of attempted murder, assault, and others.
An online publication reported on Monday that the Olu of Warri was invited by the Delta State Police Command following a petition allegedly written against the monarch.
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Reacting to the invitation by the police, the respected traditional ruler, who spoke through his palace secretary, Kenneth Uyebi, said the invitation was the handwork of some miscreants and disgruntled elements in the Itsekiri nation.
According to the palace scribe, the Warri Area commander, ACP Abubakar, has tendered an unreserved apology to the Olu of Warri.
He said, “The very next day, the Area Commander called to apologise to the palace that the letter of invitation to 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“If there was an invitation, as you said, His Majesty would have honoured it, but the Area Command has withdrawn the one they sent in error and has not sent another letter as we speak.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apology to His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, that the letter was sent in error and therefore withdrawn.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 the Okere community, the chairman of the Okere Community Management Committee/Planning Committee, Ugwa Olu, Fred Olomuro, noted in a statement 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 the 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.