
Gunmen suspected to be hired killers stormed Nkerefi community in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State Friday night killing the traditional ruler of Isienu Amofu, Igwe Peter Onuoha, a native, Daniel Ogbu and a couple, Ejike Udeme Uzor and Evelyn Udeme Uzor.
Some other residents of the community who were reportedly shot by the gunmen, who invaded the community under the cover of darkness, are said to be receiving treatments at Annunciation Specialist Hospital, Emene Enugu.
Residents of the community were reportedly thrown into confusion when sound of the sporadic shooting by the gunmen shattered the peace of the night.
Unlucky indigenes were reportedly hit by stray bullets as villagers especially those living near the Igwe’s palace scampered for safety.
At the end of the shooting, the villagers returned to find the lifeless body of their traditional ruler, Igwe Onuoha and that of one Chocho who had been shot dead.
Personal assistant to the royal father, simply identified as Vincent, was reportedly shot while fleeing the palace but he survived the attack.
It was further confirmed that a couple was also found dead on account of gunshot wounds they sustained.
The motive for the attack could not be immediately ascertained but sources said the royal father and some youths in the community had disagreed over a suspicious spiritual sacrifice he made in the community sometime last year.
Our source said; “Last year, Igwe and the youths in the village had problem when they (youths) accused the monarch of retarding the progress of the community through fetish practices but the Igwe reportedly told them that the sacrifice he did was purely for his protection and that of his family members and not on behalf of the entire community.
“Angered by the development, the youths forcefully uprooted the royal father’s signboard to express their disloyalty but the community leaders condemned the act and threatened to fish out and discipline the youths involved. Some of the culprits ran out of the community since then. But it is not clear for now if the exiled youths are responsible for this bloodbath.”
Igwe Onuoha, the Eze Na Chi 1, was the Managing Director of Posdonal Nigeria Limited and Secretary of Nkanu East Traditional Rulers Council. Reacting to the killings the Nkanu East Council chairman Pastor, Sam Iyiogwe condemned the act assuring that the council would play it’s role in ensuring the culprits were exposed.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident described it as unfortunate vowing that the police will do everything within its powers to bring perpetrators to book.
He said the command is working relentlessly to ensure that those behind the alleged murder are unmasked and brought to book.
He said that full scale investigations have commenced into the incident as dead bodies of the deceased persons have been deposited at Eastern Nigeria Medical Center, Enugu and General Hospital Agbani respectively.
Amaraizu also disclosed that there is increase security surveillance in the area to avoid escalation of violence and further breakdown of law and order and to be able unmask the perpetrators.
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