44 Remanded In Prison For Unleashing Terror On Community, Molesting 20 Women

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No fewer than 44 persons have been remanded in Okere prisons, Warri, over the terror unleashed on some persons and the molestation of 20 women, including a young daughter of a cleric in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State during the aborted ‘Ekene’ festival.

You’d recall that some hoodlums stormed the community during the festival and unleashed terror, molesting a young daughter of a cleric whose church the traditional ruler of the community worships, as the monarch’s decision not to participate in the festival because of his religious beliefs angered the youths.

A Police patrol van was also burnt by the hooligans who took advantage of the festival which holds once in 15 years to carry out unholy acts, which brought the famous ‘Ekene’ festival to an abrupt end.

Mrs Ikomi, Chief Magistrate in charge of the Agbarha-Otor Magistrate Court 1, ordered that the 44 suspects be remanded in prison custody till May 9, 2013 when the matter will come up for hearing.

Meantime, the Ughelli Area Commander of police, Mr Aworisola Awotinde, said the police was still on the trail of some of the principal actors.

“They(principal actors) have gone into hiding but we will smoke them out,” reiterating that the police was determined to stamp out all forms of criminality in the area.

The Agbarha-Otor monarch, HRM Richard Oghenewogaga Ebelle, Okorefe I, had through a town crier warned the people against violence a week before the aborted festival started, sources said, but his words were not adhered to.