Gunmen Burn Monarch, Five Others To Death in Imo

 

Unidentified armed attackers have killed the traditional ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community in Imo State, Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, in a violent assault that also claimed the lives of five other victims.

Authorities said the monarch was burnt to death alongside the unidentified individuals during the attack, which occurred along Asa Awara Road in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.

Police in the state confirmed that the incident triggered an immediate security response, with tactical operatives deployed to track down those responsible for the killings.

According to the Imo State Police Command, officers were alerted to the incident on April 10 after a distress report from the Ohaji Police Division indicated that heavily armed assailants had ambushed the victims and set them ablaze.

When security personnel arrived at the scene, they discovered the charred remains of the monarch and the other victims. 

The bodies were later evacuated and taken to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Owerri for preservation and further examination.

Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, had ordered an immediate and coordinated operation involving multiple security agencies to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

He explained that investigators have launched a full probe into the attack while operational teams continue a manhunt for the suspects believed to have fled the area.

“The command has mobilised specialised units and intelligence assets to ensure those responsible for the killings are located and brought to justice,” Okoye said.

Security authorities have also reinforced patrols and surveillance in communities around Ohaji/Egbema to prevent further violence and reassure residents.

In response to the incident, the police commissioner visited the Ochia community, accompanied by senior officers, for an on-the-spot assessment aimed at calming tensions and strengthening public confidence in security efforts.

Bosso expressed sympathy to the family of the slain monarch and the relatives of the other victims, describing the killings as a grave tragedy for the state.

“The police command is fully committed to restoring peace in the area. Every available resource is being deployed to ensure the suspects are apprehended,” he said.

Residents were urged to assist the investigation by providing any useful information to nearby police stations or through the command’s emergency lines.

Police officials added that updates on the investigation will be released as efforts to track down the attackers continue.