Men of the Imo State Police Command said the traditional ruler of Mbutu ancient Kingdom in Mbaise, His Royal Highness Eze Damin Nwaigwe has been freed by his abductors.
Nwaigwe was kidnapped in the early hours of Thursday from his palace in Mbutu.
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The gunmen, numbering over 10, had stormed Mbutu on Thursday and abducted the traditional ruler from his palace, a community source who craved anonymity told our correspondent.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Mike Abattam, in a statement on Saturday, said the monarch was released unhurt and has since been reunited with his family.
The statement did not state where the monarch was released, if the abductors were caught or whether ransom was paid.
The statement said, “The Royal father, HRH Eze Damin Nwaigwe of the Mbutu Ancient Kingdom, who was kidnapped on 09/12/2021 at about 0300 hours in his residence has been rescued unhurt and reunited with his family.
Nwaigwe was lucky as his counterpart from Njaba, Edwin Azike, who was abducted on Friday, was murdered.
The corpse of the monarch was dumped at the market square in the community.