Tension has gripped Ikeala Ahiaba community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia state following the gruesome murder of its traditional ruler, Eze James Nwabeke at his residence, yesterday.
Unknown gunmen had at about 1.30 am on Tuesday stormed the residence of the aged monarch shot him dead and butchered his body. The gunmen did not spare his wife as they inflicted several machete cuts on her and his daughter in law and later dumped her on top of the late monarch’s corpse.
According to a source, after killing the monarch, the gunmen appeared to have come on a mission to wipe out the entire family as the monarch’s son escaped death by whiskers as the gunmen riddled his room with bullets.
247ureports.com gathered that the late monarch was involved in a protracted tussle for the stool which he later won and was making preparations for his coronation before he was murdered by yet to be identified hoodlums.
Though the reason for the killing of the monarch is yet to be ascertained, residents of the area have been enveloped with fear, wondering why such a calamity will befall their community.
A cross section of the residents who s[poke to 247ureports.com said they are still shocked at the incident as the late monarch was a peace loving man who could hardly hurt a fly.
As at the time of filing this report, the Eze Nwabeke’s body has been deposited at an undisclosed morgue in the area, but his wife and daughter in law are now receiving medical attention at the hospital.
When contacted, Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke who confirmed the incident added that the State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshak, had visited the residence of the late monarch. He explained that investigations are ongoing to unravel those behind the dastardly act.
According to him, the gunmen were four in number, from the look of things; the gunmen were ready to take more lives, because after killing the monarch, they went to one of his son’s room and shattered it with bullet. But one of his sons escaped being shot after he ran away into the bush.”
