Gunmen launched a deadly attack on Friday night, killing the traditional ruler of Ochia Awarra Ohaji, Ochia Paulinus Ekwueme, along with security personnel in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The monarch was reportedly ambushed at the boundary between Assa and Ochia communities shortly after returning to the country earlier in the week from a trip abroad.
Sources indicated that he was on his way back to the community when the attackers struck.
A source familiar with the incident, who requested anonymity, disclosed that some members of the monarch’s security convoy were also killed during the attack, although the exact number of casualties could not be confirmed.
The source further alleged that both the monarch and the slain operatives were set ablaze after being killed, plunging the area into grief.
According to the source, the traditional ruler had earlier left the community following a dispute with some individuals and was heading home at the time of the attack.
He said, “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.
The incident happened at the boundary of Assa and Ochia community in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.
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“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.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said security operatives had been deployed to restore calm in the area, though he noted that details regarding the number of casualties were still unclear.
Okoye said, “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 Imo State CP, Audu Garba Bosso, has deployed the tactical team to commence investigation to identify the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
“The CP has also deployed enough security operatives to hunt down the killers. And I assure you that we will fish them out no matter where they are hiding.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, had ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams across the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area to ensure safety and begin investigations into the attack.