Delta community thrown into mourning over monarch’s death

“Decomposing body was found in Umunede, not Ekpon”

By Festus Ahon

THE hitherto bobbling town of Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, has been thrown into mourning, following the killing of their king, HRM Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III by his abductors.

The deceased monarch whose decomposing body was found at Ekpon bush in Edo State, was reportedly kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the 5th of this month at a bad spot along Obior/Igbodo Road.

As at about 12 noon when Saturday Vanguard visited the community, armed soldiers were stationed at the Ogwash-Uku Road end of the town to forestall the breakdown of law and order, whereas youths of the area barricaded the Issele-Uku Road end with woods and bonfire.

The youths in their numbers, took advantage of the situation to make brisk business by extorting money from motorists and ‘okada’ riders before they were allowed access into the community.

Our correspondent who drove round the community, report that the news of the unexpected death of the 52-year-old monarch who was crowned in December, 2006 crippled economic activities in the town, adding that all shops in the area were closed.

All attempts to get the people’s reaction did not yield result as they declined comments on common ground, saying; “Saturday Vanguard, we are not in the mood to talk now; this is not the best of time for our kingdom.

“As you can see, everybody is mourning, including children. These Flani herdsmen have dealt with us. We have not been ourselves since we got the news of death of our revered king”.

Meanwhile, one of the vigilante members in Ubulu-Uku told Saturday Vanguard that the decomposing body of the king was found at Umunede bush in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State and not Ekpon in Edo State.

The vigilante member, who pleaded anonymity, said they discovered two decomposing corpses in the bush but were able to identify the monarch “because of his beads and clothes,”.

The source who was cornered by our correspondent in the community, said: “We could not identify the second body but the fellow had Hausa shoes on. This is a very challenging period for us in this kingdom. “I was one of those who went in search of the king.

In similar development, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the state, Celestina Kalu said the decomposing body of the monarch and one other unidentified corpse were recovered in a bush within Umunede at the boundary between Delta and Edo states.