Murder: Police arrest 4 youths for allegedly killing traditional ruler in Ebonyi

BY UKAZ DAVE / ABAKALIKI

Police detectives in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State have arrested four youths suspected to have murdered a traditional ruler, Ezeogo Christopher Igboke, in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.

The royal father was shot dead on February 7, this year in his palace at Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Parading the suspects on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters Abakaliki, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mrs. Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said 30 others who also conspired and took part in the murder were at large and would be arrested.

Onovwakpoyeya gave the names of the susptects as Nnabuike Egede (popularly known as Champagne), Chukwudi Aliewa, Obinna Igwe and Okechukwu Nwamgbegbu.

She explained that the suspected hoodlums scaled the fence of the traditional ruler’s palace and shot him severally while he was resting on a couch.

It was gathered that the criminals were on a revenge mission following alleged killing of one of the their gang members, terrorizing the community some years ago.

In another development, the security operatives have also arrested armed robbery suspects and suspected cultists whose names were given as Ifeanyichukwu Ogele, Chukwunonso Nwali and Emeka Nwokwu.

Some of the suspects confessed to the crime while items recovered from them included: 3 locally made pistols, 2 AA live cartridges, 6 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and a motorcycle.

The police image maker said the suspects would be arraigned in court after investigations.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.