Gunmen kill traditional ruler in Ebonyi

The traditional ruler of Umuihe autonomous community, Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, HRH Umazi Ibo Ubani, has been killed by gunmen suspected to be assassins.

The tragic incident has thrown the community into mourning and confusion.

Daily Trust gathered that natives of the community scampered for their lives following heavy gunshots by the gunmen who invaded the neighbourhood on Friday.

The Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Hon. Chinasa Okorie, confirmed the incident to journalists on Sunday evening.

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The coordinator said that the attack occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday, describing the late 60-year-old Ubani as a bold, fearless and intelligent monarch.

He said: “Around 10 pm last Friday, I received a call that there were shootings in the house of our traditional ruler. After the shootings, it was discovered that our traditional ruler had been killed and that was the traditional ruler of Umuihe Autonomous Community, Akaeze, HRH Eze Umazi Ibo Ubani.

“This is a great loss to the community and Akaeze at large because he was a man of integrity, a man that would be difficult to replace. The man was intelligent, bold and fearless.

“I am very sad about his killing. It is a great loss to Akaeze Development Centre where I am the leader. His voice was loud in Ebonyi State, he was a first-class traditional ruler. The killing is a very bad incident,” he said.

Also, another stakeholder from the community, Simbad Ogbuatu, confirmed the killing of the traditional ruler.

He noted that the incident had caused tension in the community, adding that markets and shops around the community couldn’t open for businesses.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Joshua Ukandu, while confirming the incident, said policemen were after the assailants.

“Immediately we got a distress call on the incident, we swung into action. The assailants have already left the scene by the time our men moved to the scene but we are trailing them,” he told our correspondent.

In less than 2 weeks, Ebonyi has witnessed about 3 suspected assassinations.

Daily Trust learnt that one business guru at the Abakaliki International Market was also murdered two weeks ago while driving into his residence on Ekwurimiri Street in Abakiliki metropolis.