Imo: Gunmen Kidnap Imo Traditional Ruler

By Charles Igbo

In an unprecedented swift operation, gunmen have kidnapped a well respected Traditional Ruler in Imo State.

The gunmen, numbering over 10, according to information available to this Magazine, struck the Palace of His Royal Highness, Eze Damian Nwigwe, at the uncivilised time of 2.30am, Thursday, and bundled him into their vehicle, after firing series of gun shots as if in a war.

Eze Nwigwe is the Traditional Rulers of Mbutu in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the State.

It is not the first time a Traditional Ruler would be kidnapped in Imo State, but it is the first time the abductors would have the courage to storm a Traditional Ruler’s Palace and abduct him.

The first time a Traditional Ruler was abducted, about two years ago, it was along the road. Recently too, the father of a former Deputy Governor of the State, Prince Eze Madumere, a Traditional Ruler, was abducted along the road on his way to a function in Ikeduru. He was released after four days with his abductors.

In Eze Nwigwe’s case, speculation is that his abductors took advantage of the isolated area where he built his Palace and struck. They were said to have come in a couple of vehicles, and left the engines running all through the operation.

His subjects are devastated at what one of them described as an abomination, while other Traditional Rulers in the State are shocked at the new wave of insecurity which seem to be targeting Traditional Rulers.

A couple of months ago, gunmen invaded a meeting of Traditional Rulers at the Headquarters of Njaba Local Government Area of the State. They killed two of the Traditional Rulers and injured three of them.Till date, no arrest has been made.

At the time of writing this, there has been no official statement from the Palace of Eze Nwigwe, or the Chairman of Aboh  Mbaise LGA. But the Police Command  confirmed the sad incident.