By Ifeanyi Onyejeke
There was pandemonium on Tuesday morning as residents of Agbarho Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State woke up to see a fierce fire raging at a Staff Quarter which houses NYSC Corp members, a guest house, the palace main hall and the window of the king’s apartment.
It was also observed that there was an attempt to burn the car of the king as petrol fumes were perceived in different parts of the palace while the air conditioner attached to the window of the king’s apartment was completely burnt down and the window destroyed.
Speaking on the incident, President-General, Agbarho-Urhobo Improvement Union, Chief Monday Igho-Odiphri, said he got a distress call at 3am Tuesday morning that the Palace of the Osuivie was on fire and he immediately mobilised security men.
Chief Igho-Odiprhi who said the fire incident was a calculated attempt to embarrass the entire people of Agbarho Kingdom attributed it to efforts of those intending to sabotage the progress of the kingdom.
While thanking God that no life was lost in the attack, Chief Igho-Odiprhi commended security operatives in Agbarho for their timely response which he said culminated in putting out the fire.
The palace guard who mans the gate, Friday Sabulefe while giving his own account said he was held down by a group of three boys with guns who issued threats to him.
Chief Igho-Odiprhi and the security men took time to inspect the level of damage and the escape route of the perpetrators of the crime.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident to NewsNet Nigeria saying an investigation has been launched on the matter.
