January 10, (THEWILL) – Authorities of the Bayelsa Police Command have ordered an investigation into the alleged attempt to dethrone and kill the Paramount Ruler of the Adiegbe Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, HRH Benedict Thompson, over his attempt to stop some individuals in the community from diverting funds from oil companies into private pockets.
HRH Benedict Thompson, who is a Fourth Class Traditional Ruler, in conjunction with the Community Development Committee (CDC) leadership, had in the last few months, raised an alarm over the alleged impersonation of his person and CDC leadership to divert royalties meant for the community from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Darlon Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
They have also dragged the identified individuals before the Ekeremor High Court and security agencies, to desist and asked the oil companies to stop patronising these alleged fake individuals.
Newsmen confirmed that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ben Okolo, acting on a petition filed by HRH Benedict Thompson, has ordered an investigation into the allegation of unlawful possession of firearms, local warfare and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace in Adiegbe community against Messrs Salvation Kano, Julius Kano, Selebi Sanuku and others.
In the petition dated 4th of January, 2023, and made available to newsmen at the weekend, HRH Benedict Thompson, alleges that the accused persons on January 1st, at about 8pm at Adiegbe community, were armed with dangerous weapons including guns, machete and sticks, threatened to kill him and later, proceeded to a radio station claiming that he had been dethroned and no longer the Amananaowei of the Community.
It was also gathered that one of the suspects, who was recorded on a mobile phone, threatened to beat up and kill the Paramount ruler. Also recorded and tendered as evidence to the Police were claims by the Former CDC Chairman, to also deal with the Paramount ruler, threatening that he should resign and allow them to enthrone another monarch.
According to HRH Thompson, “The Amanaeowei is a life stool as recognised by the Bayelsa State Government and by the virtue of the Chieftaincy laws of Bayelsa state, 2017, as amended, after the Government has recognised a person as a chief, any other person, who purports to install another person or allows himself to be installed as Chief in place of the person so recognised by the government, is a contravention of the law.”
He also accused one of the suspects, Salvation Kano, of specifically threatening to kill him and become the traditional ruler of the Adiegbe community, Oyakiri clan, in the Ekeremor Local Government area of the state.
A Senior Police source confirmed to newsmen that the State Commissioner, Ben Okolo, has directed that an investigation be conducted and those mentioned in the petition invited.
When contacted on the development, HRH Thompson confirmed his petition filed before the Bayelsa Police Command, insisting that his effort against cases of impersonation, illegal diversion of community funds and the threat of violence is to keep together family unity and evolve a communal system that would promote peace and promote inclusion of each family in the community as beneficiaries of empowerment and development.
About the Author
