Suspected individuals who made away with the crowns and other royal regalia of the Olu of Warri have been told to expect the wrath of the gods of Iwere land unless they retrace their steps and return the artefacts.

This warning is coming from the Egogo (Mouthpiece) of Warri Kingdom, Chief Robinson Ariyo, barely 48 hours to the coronation of the Olu-designate, Omooba Tsola Emiko on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at the Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral home of all Itsekiri.

It was earlier recall that the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 5, Benin, last Monday, had declared two sons of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko, wanted in connection with the missing royal crown of the kingdom.

The two princes, Prince Onyowoli Emiko and Prince Omatsuli Emiko, were declared wanted on the allegation that they broke into the palace strong rooms of the Olu of Warri, where they allegedly stole the ancient artefacts.

The duo was declared “by the Nigeria Police Force Interpol Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City” wanted, with a Warrants of Arrest issued against them by a Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State.

Speaking on the development, Chief Ariyo, who’s also a member of the Olu Advisory Council said even though the wheel of natural justice might be slow, it surely grinds well.

The truth is that because people don’t understand the way nature works is slowly but it grinds well. It’s not the day of the sacrilege that the repercussion sets in.

“Something similar had happened before in history. The crown was not stolen but was moved from one place to another. The man died followed by his children and grandchildren and so on.

“They had to consult and do a lot of sacrifices to halt the spell. The suspected thieves are actually compromising their spiritual safety,” he warned.

The legal practitioner added that the Itsekiri Nation petitioned the police after it was obvious that the two princes were not honouring an invitation by the police and were not taking a soft landing the police had offered for an amicable resolution.

“So after the deed was done, we petitioned the police and they invited Chief Ayiyi Emami, Magrey and the two princes who refused to show up till now. That was the reason the police declared them wanted.

The police had wanted to resolve the issue as a family matter and even suggested how it should be resolved, but they’ve refused to listen,” he noted.

The Itsekiri mouthpiece said before the current development, the Olu-designate, Omooba Emiko had tried to convince the suspended Ologbotsere, Chief Emami to apologise to the Ginuwa I Ruling House for desecrating the dynasty by shredding their letter and sending same back to them, as well as use his influence to retrieve the stolen crown and royal artefacts all to no avail.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was their declaration on Facebook that they wanted to crown their own king with the original crown. Where did they get it from?

“So we felt that it was audacity taken too far. Because we had actually left them for the gods to handle but they were outstepping their bounds.

“A drum you stole and we’re begging you to return and you’re now saying you wanted to organise a party with it? That’s the height of arrogance!