Gunmen Kill Traditional Ruler, Security Operatives in Imo Community

Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia Awarra Ohaji, Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, along with several security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

The monarch was ambushed at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities while returning from a trip abroad earlier in the week, according to sources.

Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed the killing, stating that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, had deployed tactical teams to the area to ensure safety and launch an investigation.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the late ruler had just arrived in Owerri on Friday and was heading to his village when the attack occurred. The source added that security operatives in the monarch’s convoy were also shot dead, though the exact number of casualties could not be confirmed.

The source further alleged that the bodies of the victims were set ablaze by the attackers, throwing the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area into mourning.

“It was a well-planned and well-executed attack. Someone must have given out the information that he was returning to the village on Friday. Our Eze had been abroad. He only arrived in Owerri on Friday and was heading to the village when he was attacked and killed. We were told that they were set ablaze by the gunmen. Everybody is scared and mourning,” the source said.

Okoye noted that the police commissioner had ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams throughout the local government area to maintain calm and hunt down the perpetrators.

“Yes, I am fully aware of the killing of the traditional ruler, but I do not have all the details for now, so I cannot confirm the number of casualties. Already, the CP has deployed the tactical team to commence investigation to identify the perpetrators of this dastardly act. I assure you that we will fish them out no matter where they are hiding,” Okoye said.