Ogun State Police arrest three for stealing late monarch’s staff of office, crown

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In Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria, the Police have arrested three men for allegedly stealing the royal crown and staff of office of a monarch in the State, late Olu of Ogunmakin, Oba Olugbenga Shodiya, who died about two months ago.

Identified as Amusa Kazeem, Oke Oladipupo and Johnson Oluwole, the trio were said to have allegedly broken into the house of the late monarch on Thursday, October 12, around 2 a.m. to steal the designated items.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, the suspects were apprehended following swift action by Police operatives who swung into action immediately they were tipped on the development.

The statement read, “On the 12th of October 2023, an intelligence was received from the Palace of his Royal Majesty late Ogunmakin that one Amusa Kazeem “m” Oke Oladipupo and Johnson Oluwole ‘m’ conspired and stole the Royal Crown and Staff of Office two months after the demise of King Ogunmakin.

“The suspects were alleged to have entered into the house at about 2000hrs where the properties of the late king were kept. The duo took the key which was kept in the custody of the person assigned to keep the properties and removed the Royal Crown and the Staff of Office of the late King an act described as an abomination.

“Immediately the information was received the police swung into action and recovered the Royal Crown, from the house of one Kazeem Amusan “m”. The Staff of Office has not recovered, but intensive action is ongoing to recover same. The suspects have been arrested and undergoing interrogation.

On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, who was said to have been briefed on the incident which he described as sacrilegious, condemned the act and urged members of the public to volunteer information that could help to recover the Staff of Office.

In African cultures, a monarch’s staff of office and royal crown has a myriad of significance therefore, so much value is attached to such items.

According to Pulse.ng, receiving the Staff of Office by a monarch marks the formal assumption of office, and ascension to the throne by the monarch after weeks of seclusion where he must have been schooled on the ethics of the throne.

However, the crowning of any monarch in Nigeria and most parts of Africa and even any part of the world is done by the King makers, who officially place the crown on the king’s head.

This indicates how much reverence is accorded the royal items therefore, an attempt to cart away these items by some unscrupulous fellows breaches the age long tradition of the indigenous people of the community and appears to be a slap to the face of  their highly treasured traditional practice.

recall that in August 2021, there was a fuss online over a rare picture of Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who was 84-years-old at the time bowing to 37-year-old Olu of Warri and Ogiame Atuwatse III, His Royal Majesty, Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko.

while many wondered why Obasanjo, a man of high social status would humble himself so much before the young Olu of Warri, Special Assistant to the former President on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, explained that Obasanjo did not kneel before the monarch but before the ancient Iwere Kingdom, which dates back to over five centuries.