TENSION and confusion reigned in Nkerefi community in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State on Friday July 11, 2015, as suspected assassins invaded the area in the night, killing the traditional ruler of Isienu Amofu, Igwe Peter Onuoha.
Igwe Onuoha, the Eze Na Chi 1, until his assassination on Friday night, was the Managing Director of Posdonal Nigeria Limited and Secretary of Nkanu East Traditional Rulers Council.
Also, another man, simply identified as Chocho, ?and another man and his wife, whose identities were yet to be ascertained, were reportedly killed by the gunmen.
Several other members of the community, who were reportedly shot during the attack, which was under the cover of? darkness, were said to be receiving treatment at the Catholic Church-owned, Annunciation Specialists Hospital, Emene, Enugu.
According to sources, the community was thrown into confusion on Friday night when the people heard sporadic shooting rented the air.
Those residing near the palace of the royal father were said to have fled their homes on hearing the gunshots, but some of them were hit by the bullets.
At the end of the shooting, the residents discovered that their traditional ruler, Igwe Onuoha, and one Chocho had been shot dead.
The Personal Assistant to the royal father, identified as Vincent, was reportedly shot while fleeing the palace, but he survived the attack.
Within the neighbourhood, it was further? gathered that a man and his wife, a nurse, were also died from the gun shot injuries they had received.
The reason 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 rituals he reportedly made in the community sometime last year.
The source said: “Last year, Igwe and 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 had 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 were said to have 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.”
The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the royal father and three others were killed in a bloody attack that occurred at Nkerefi on Friday night.
He said that the corpse of the royal father had been deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu, while three other corpses were deposited at Agbani Health Centre in Nkanu West local government area.
The police spokesman said that operatives of the state police command “are already on the matter to unravel the circumstances surrounding their deaths but from available information there seems to be an internal wrangling among the people of the community.”
Igwe Onuoha, the Eze Na Chi 1, until his assassination on Friday night, was the Managing Director of Posdonal Nigeria Limited and Secretary of Nkanu East Traditional Rulers Council.
Also, another man, simply identified as Chocho, ?and another man and his wife, whose identities were yet to be ascertained, were reportedly killed by the gunmen.
Several other members of the community, who were reportedly shot during the attack, which was under the cover of? darkness, were said to be receiving treatment at the Catholic Church-owned, Annunciation Specialists Hospital, Emene, Enugu.
According to sources, the community was thrown into confusion on Friday night when the people heard sporadic shooting rented the air.
Those residing near the palace of the royal father were said to have fled their homes on hearing the gunshots, but some of them were hit by the bullets.
At the end of the shooting, the residents discovered that their traditional ruler, Igwe Onuoha, and one Chocho had been shot dead.
The Personal Assistant to the royal father, identified as Vincent, was reportedly shot while fleeing the palace, but he survived the attack.
Within the neighbourhood, it was further? gathered that a man and his wife, a nurse, were also died from the gun shot injuries they had received.
The reason 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 rituals he reportedly made in the community sometime last year.
The source said: “Last year, Igwe and 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 had 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 were said to have 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.”
The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the royal father and three others were killed in a bloody attack that occurred at Nkerefi on Friday night.
He said that the corpse of the royal father had been deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu, while three other corpses were deposited at Agbani Health Centre in Nkanu West local government area.
The police spokesman said that operatives of the state police command “are already on the matter to unravel the circumstances surrounding their deaths but from available information there seems to be an internal wrangling among the people of the community.”
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