The commissioner of police, Enugu State, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, Sunday, ordered the deployment of police operatives to Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state following the alleged shooting and subsequent death of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba.
Igwe Mba was allegedly killed by armed men, claiming to be policemen on 26/12/2020 at about 1630hrs, while presiding over a town hall meeting of the community. It was gathered that the armed men, who said they came from the Force Headquarters, stormed the meeting venue, and shot the monarch in his thigh. A source said the armed team drove into the venue of the meeting in an SUV and a Toyota Sienna, where they met the traditional ruler.
Another source said the armed squad was ushered into the meeting venue by some identified indigenes of the community, who left with the men after shooting the monarch. The traditional ruler’s Ford van was also driven away by the ‘policemen’.
The victim was conveyed to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, but was later referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, where he was confirmed dead, mainly due to over-bleeding.
Following the incident, Oruku community was embroiled in crisis as some youths in the area, loyal to the dead monarch, embarked on protest, and burnt some number of houses belonging to some people they claimed had links with the incident.
Some leaders of the community, who went to the state police headquarters to ascertain the motive of the ‘policemen’ that came, however, were told that no such records were entered in the police.
As at the time of filing this report, normalcy had returned to the community, as the state police commissioner has deployed his men, and also ordered full investigations into the matter.
The state police PRO, Mr Daniel Ndukwe, in a release, stated that, “The commissioner, while reiterating the commitment to meticulously investigate and bring the perpetrators of the alleged murder of the traditional ruler and the ensuing acts of violence to book, has called on residents of the community to remain calm, and eschew acts capable of further inciting violence in the area while the investigation lasts. He warned that anyone found wanting would be made to face the full weight of the law.”
