By Kingston Obung Calabar
Hundreds of Youths in Ugep, Yakurr local government of Cross River state, yesterday stopped the arrest of the Paramount Ruler of Yakurr and Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubana, by policemen from the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad (FSARS), Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Th e police had invaded Obol Ubana palace in Ugep to whisk the paramount ruler away over a cult war which ravaged Ugeppenultimate week in which one person, identifi ed as Jude Iroegbu, was allegedly killed. Iroegbu was a nephew to the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Mr. Okoi ObonoObla, who also hails from Yakurr. Obono-Obla had, in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, accused the Monarch of complicity in his nephew’s death and listed 20 others as cult members who killed Iroegbu. Our reporter gathered that the FSARS men could not arrest Ubana because the large number of youths blocked the entrance to the palace, and so to avoid bloodshed, the police had to invite the Paramount Ruler to Abuja for questioning. After a rowdy scenario, a cabinet member in the traditional council was said to have addressed the youth, appealing for clam with an assurance that the police were not arresting the paramount ruler.
‘One of the protesting youths, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reason, said: “It has never been heard in the history of Ugep that the Obol Lopon has been arrested. It will not happen in our lifetime. If they like let them shoot all of us.” An Ugep Chief, who also did not want his name in print, expressed worry that the Police would even make an attempt to arrest a revered paramount ruler over an unsubstantiated petition as if he were a criminal. He said: “Th e ancient throne has been desecrated. Th is is a proof of how our heritage, our pride and awe have been trampled upon. “If not for the presence of the youths and the reluctance of the Police to incur casualty, the Obol Lopon would have been disgraced for the fi rst time in our history. Th e police were prepared to do anything to arrest and humiliate him but common sense prevailed.”
