Hoodlums have in the past few days unleashed untold terror on the
people of Agbarha-Otor kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of
Delta State with about 20 women and girls molested, including an
eight-year-old daughter of the Vicar of an Anglican church in the
community.
The Area Commander, Ughelli, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP,
Awosola Awotinde who confirmed the incident said 34 persons were in
police net in connection with several violent acts, including the
setting ablaze of a police patrol vehicle by the hoodlums.
A number of police officers were, at the outset, sent to the palace
of the monarch of Agbarha-Otor, His Royal Majesty Richard Oghenevwogaga,
Ebelle-Okorefe I, to secure the king’s abode following a breakdown of
law and order in the community, Wednesday night, but rampaging hoodlums
overpowered them, Vanguard reports.
Sources say the monarch had since relocated from the palace for
security reasons, while the Area Commander, Ughelli, has reinforced
security in the town.
Reports say hooligans numbering about 100 were angry that the monarch
refused to participate in the traditional “Ekene” festival because he
is a Christian.
“They wanted the king to make sacrifice to the deity, but he refused,
saying he is a Christian and they should go ahead without him
contributing money or cooking for them during the feast, as some of the
priests and chiefs demanded.
“His refusal to take part in the feast infuriated the hooligans, who
vowed to foment trouble and they executed their mission on Wednesday,
the last day of the feast. The unfortunate thing is that some chiefs
even supported their rebellion,” a source said.
The angry hoodlums who were happy at the chance to cause trouble
allegedly started with the Vicar of an Anglican church in the community
because it was in his church that the king held a thanksgiving service
recently.
The Vicar’s eight-year-old daughter among other girls, were molested
by the hoodlums who also hijacked the property of people, claiming that
the deity wanted them.
“The miscreants engaged in defiling of women (married and single)
since the festival, which is held once every 15 years started on 27th of
March. It took a worrisome dimension Wednesday night as they invaded
the Church’s vicarage, destroyed and looted properties worth thousands
of naira after making the vicar and his households undergo some inhuman
treatments,” a community leader said