Gunmen murder Imo traditional ruler, dump body in market square

There is palpable tension in the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, following the murder of the traditional ruler of Atta ancient kingdom, Edwin Azike.

News was gathered that his corpse was found at the market square in the community on Friday morning after he was abducted on Thursday.

Recall that Newsmen had earlier reported that the traditional ruler of Mbutu ancient kingdom in the Aboh Mbaise LGA of the state, Damian Nwaigwe, was abducted on Thursday morning from his palace.

A family source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development to our correspondent saying that four persons were shot dead on Thursday in the community after the monarch was kidnapped.

He listed some of those shot dead as Iyke Oduozor, a 17-year-old apprentice, and one Lady Dominica and another whose name could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

He said Azike’s body was dumped at the market square and the villagers discovered it this morning.

Also confirming the report, the Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council/ Community Policing in the state, Eze Emma Okeke, said that the monarchs in the state were saddened by the killing of their colleague.

He described the killing of Azike as an abomination, saying that the council was on Friday morning informed of the killing of the traditional ruler.

“Traditional rulers are not politicians; we are only custodians of the culture of our people. We were informed on Thursday when he was kidnapped, only for him to be found dead, this morning.

“We have received the sad news about the killing of Eze Edwin Azike. This is abominable in Igbo culture. I don’t know why traditional rulers are being hunted like this,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Imo State, Micheal Abattam, when contacted, promised to make an inquiry and get back to our correspondent but he had yet to do so before this report was written.