Chaos as monarch death leads to protest

There is pandemonium in Enugu State, on Sunday, as the traditional ruler of Oruku Community in Nkanu East local government area, Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba, was shot dead. 

On Sunday, youths in the community protested the monarch’s death and set houses and vehicles ablaze. 

There are claims that policemen shot the traditional ruler dead but the claim could not immediately be ascertained. 

It was gathered that the traditional ruler was shot dead while he was addressing members of his community at Oruku Town Hall. 

Sources told our correspondent on Sunday morning that the policemen, who were on mufti, wielding AK-47 rifles, had invaded the venue of the meeting in an SUV and a Sienna bus about 2 pm on December 26, 2020. 

“The traditional ruler was presiding over the meeting and the three natives pointed at him, immediately one of the policemen shot him on the thigh and he fell down bleeding. There was confusion after the royal father was shot. Everybody in the hall ran for safety,” one of the sources said.  

It was learnt 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 deposited at the National Orthopedic Hospital mortuary. 

As a result of the incident, some aggrieved members of Oruku community regrouped Saturday evening and attacked the homes of some members of the community. 

More than four houses and some vehicles were reportedly set ablaze by the mob. 

Efforts to reach Enugu Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, proved abortive as he did not pick his call.  

He also had yet to respond to a text message sent to him on the development.