Royal father killed, body set ablaze

TWO men, including a the traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo autonomous community, Oguta local government area of Imo State, Eze Victor Ijioma, were Thursday evening, killed by unknown gunmen.

According to reports emanating from the area, the second victim of the rampaging armed hoodlums, was the Traditional Prime Minister of Mgbele community, in the same Oguta local council area of the state.

Vanguard gathered that the slain citizens, were killed in separate operations, carried out by the gunmen, in different locations, within the local council area, on the same Thursday.

An Orsu Obodo villager, who spoke anonymously to Vanguard yesterday, recalled that the armed men accosted their royal father at Umuamaka Junction, in the neighbouring Izombe community and killed him in his car.

His words: “Our respected monarch was reportedly waylaid at Umuamaka Junction in Izombe, which is a neighbouring community from ours.

“What pained us most was that he was not only killed, but not being satisfied with his gruesome murder, the armed hoodlums went a step further to set his corpse ablaze, inside his car.”

Although stories surrounding the murder of the Traditional Prime Minister of Mgbele community was sketchy at press time, villagers confirmed that he was killed by unknown gunmen.

It was gathered that soon after the killing of the two citizens went viral, security personnel were moved into the affected communities.

Lucky (not real name), confirmed that: “Soldiers and other security personnel, have increased their presence in Izombe and the neighbouring communities, possibly, to arrest the perpetrators and get them to account for their dastardly acts.

“With what has just happened, it appears that the unknown gunmen have changed their operational tactics and resorted to hit and run. The security operatives are stridently combing the villages, in search of the hoodlums.”

Efforts made to reach the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Henry Okoye, for comments, before going to press, proved abortive, because he could not be reached on his mobile line.

Culled from Vanguard