Operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command have arrested suspected killers of a traditional ruler in the state.
reported that the monarch, Eze Christopher Ewa, was murdered three weeks before the governorship elections at his palace in the Umuezeokaoha community, in the Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the suspects, a gang of dreaded cultists, killed the Ebonyi monarch in his palace while relaxing with his wives and children.
He was said to have been shot many times until he died.
The statement read in part, “On February 27, 2023, Eze Christopher Ewa was at his palace at Umuezeokaoha with his wives and children.
“On that same date at about 8.45pm, a dreaded gang of the Ayes Confraternity invaded the Eze’s palace armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons.
“They were led by one Nnabuike Egede aka Champaign. Others are Chukwudi Aliewa, Obinna Igwe aka Nwampepe, Okechukwu Nwamgbegbu and others numbering 30.
“The dreaded hoodlums gained access into the highly-fortified palace through the fence and on sighting the Eze, they shot at him severally and abandoned him in a pool of his blood to die, after which they fled into hiding.
“Sequel to the attack and gruesome murder of Eze Christopher Ewa, an official report was made at the Ezza North Police Division, Achiagu by one of his sons, Igboke Onyema, and the case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Abakaliki for discreet investigation.”
The police spokesman said as soon as the case was transferred, operatives started another round of investigation which led to the arrest of the four male suspects.
“The arrested suspects were interrogated and they made useful statements confessing to the crime.
“The suspects in their various confessions mentioned some of their cohorts currently at large, who participated actively in the crime,” he added.
