Imo: Mbaise Cancels Cultural Festival Over Murder Of Traditional Ruler

By Charles Igbo

Communities which make up the Ezinihitte Local Government Area, Mbaise, Imo State, have cancelled all preparations to hold its high profile cultural festival – Oji Ezinihitte.

Preparations had been in top gear for the annual celebration. The people home and abroad were looking forward to it. Then tragedy struck.

One of the Traditional Rulers   of one of the Communities which make up Ezinihitte Local Government Area, Mbaise, was murdered in a gruesome manner.

His Royal Highness, Eze Joe-Benz Ochulor, the Olu 1 of Otulu, Amumara, was abducted from his Palace  on Saturday, November 25, 2023. Report said he was abducted by gunmen while he was eating.

The shocked family and Community were waiting for a call from his abductors to ask for ransom money. They thought it was the usual kidnap-for-money which has become the norm in the South-east Zone. But that never happened. This abduction was for a more sinister purpose. For, hours later, same day he was abducted, the Traditional Ruler’s body was found, dumped along the Mbutu-Chokoneze Road. He had been murdered in a gruesome manner. One of his legs was severed from his body.

No arrests have been made. When the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, and Heads of other Security Agencies went to the area for an on the spot assessment, two Police Officers, a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, and an Inspector, who were among those waiting along the road to escort them to the murdered Eze’s Palace and the spot where his body was found, were mowed down by gunmen when the detachment was attacked. Others were injured.

The Mbaise Nation, the Ezinihitte LGA, and the Amumara Community in particular are mourning. They are in pains.

In the past two weeks, blood has been flowing like a river in Mbaise. At least, five high profile murders have been recorded. The people are worried.

In a statement a couple of days ago, the Ezuruezu Mbaise lamented the tragic situation, and warned of  the consequences of reducing Mbaise to a killing field.

It is to honour the memory of the murdered Traditional Ruler, and to allow for a respectable period for mourning, that the Communities which make up Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, cancelled the 2024 Oji Ezinihitte.

A statement signed by the Chairman, Ezinihitte Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Eze Ositadinma Nwokocha, Umara 111 of Adakam Amumara, regretted the tragic situation the people have found themselves, and the sudden suspension of all preparations for the 2024 Oji Ezinihitte.

The statement reads in full:

FROM THE PALACE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, EZE OSITADINMA B. NWOKOCHA, UMARA III OF ADAKAM AMUMARA

“My dear good people of Amumara, it is an understatement that we were shocked not only by the transition of my brother King, but also by the barbaric and heartless manner in which he was murdered. It is difficult to think about any reason why HRH Eze Joe-Benz Ochulor who was one of the most peace-loving Ezes in Imo State should suffer such fate. It is unbelievable and still seems like a dream.

“For Amumara people globally, it is deeply disheartening especially when preparations for Oji Ezinihitte to be hosted by our communities were progressing effectively. We had proposed to take the Oji ceremony to a new height. But who are we to question God.

“Consequently, I have consulted widely with other Ezes in Ezinihithe and the SOLAD and have come to the conclusion that the 2024 Oji Ezinihitte ceremony be suspended. Discussions on the hosting of the Oji are suspended for now and will be revisited at the appropriate time.

“I  am aware of the efforts that have already gone into preparations and the financial costs (air fares and others) among individuals and groups by this decision. However, we cannot call the whole world to celebrate our rich culture when we are this devastated.

“Investigations are ongoing and we hope that the perpetrators of this heinous crime against God and humanity will be brought to book soon.

“I commiserate with the Ochulor extended family on the demise of their noble father,  the good people of Otulu Amumara on the sudden transition of their great and peaceful king, the entire Amumara communities, Ezinihitte, the Mbaise Nation and Imo State at large.

“I  encourage every son and daughter of Amumara to pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of our brother, the king, Olu1 of Otulu Amumara, the wife and children as we continue to mourn his most unexpected transition.

“May the Almighty continue to protect our communities and grant  us His peace and guidance now and always.

HRH, Eze Ositadinma B. Nwokocha, Umara III  of Adakam Amumara and the Chairman, Ezinihitte Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers.