Tension in Enugu Community as traditional ruler is killed by unknown gunmen


...As Mba's supporters regroup, set houses of suspected opponents on fire

 

Enugu --------- Four houses including the compound of the father of a retired federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Raymond Okenwa were reportedly burnt down on Saturday following the murder of the traditional ruler of Oruku Community, Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba, while presiding over a town hall meeting of the community on December 26, 2020.

The late traditional ruler of Oruku in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu state, was shot by some armed men who claimed to be policemen at about 2pm on Saturday.

The armed men who claimed to have come from the police headquarters in Abuja, shot Mba on the thigh as he was addressing his subjects at Oruku Town hall, thus triggering tension in the community.

The "policemen," led by one Inspector Danladi, also abducted one Agozie Ani from the Oruku Townhall after killing the traditional ruler.

Eye witnesses said the killer squad reportedly invaded the venue of the meeting in an SUV and a Toyota Sienna at about 2 pm on Boxing Day, and moved into the hall seeking to see the royal father.

The armed invaders were said to have been escorted to the Townhall by three natives of Oruku community identified as Emmanuel Nwobodo, Onyema Edeh and Sunday Onunze. They also later left with the same vehicles that brought the armed men, eyewitnesses said. 

The traditional ruler who was presiding over the meeting was identified by the three natives, before one of the ‘policemen’ immediately shot him on the thigh and he fell down bleeding. 

There was stampede after the royal father was shot as the natives scampared to different directions amid sporadic shooting by the armed men, who also made attempts to abduct more of the natives. 

Late Igwe Mba and Mr. Ani were conveyed to the Parklane Hospital, Enugu by the gun men but Mba could not be admitted due to lack of bed space.

They were referred to the National Orthopedic hospital, Enugu but on arrival doctors at the Emergency Unit where the traditional ruler was confirmed dead. 

It was gathered that the royal father who was elected by his community on December 26, 2019 reportedly bled to death before he could get medical attention. 

His corpse was later deposited at the National Orthopedic hospital mortuary while the whereabouts of Ani is yet to be known.

The Ford Pick-up van driven to the aborted meeting by the deceased royal father which was also driven away by the team is yet to be found.

It was learned that attempts by some leaders of the community who were at the state police command headquarters to ascertain the identity and motive of the “invading policemen” did not yield fruits as they were informed that no such entry was made at any police station to that effect. 

As a result of the incident, the aggrieved members of Oruku community reportedly regrouped on Saturday evening and attacked the homes of some indigenes believed to be behind the murder of the traditional ruler.

Some vehicles parked within the affected premises were also set ablaze by the mob. As at Sunday morning, more buildings belonging to more prominent indigenous people of the town have also been set ablaze.

Efforts to get the official reaction of the State Police Command were not successful as the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ndukwe, did not pick his calls while the text message sent to him on the development was not replied before going to press.