SAN FRANCISCO, December 27, (THEWILL) – The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, has ordered an investigation into the murder of Igwe Emmanuel Mba, the traditional ruler of Oruku community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
A statement on Sunday in Enugu by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, quoted Abdurrahman as saying the command will meticulously investigate and bring the perpetrators to book.
“Following the act of violence that occurred in Oruku Community over the alleged shooting and death of its traditional ruler by armed men suspected to be policemen, normalcy has been restored by police operatives.
“I have promptly ordered the deployment of operatives of the command to the area and the launch of a full-scale investigation into the incidence.
“The command will meticulously investigate and bring the perpetrators of the alleged murder and the ensuing acts of violence to book.
“I also call on residents of the community to remain calm while eschewing acts capable of inciting further violence in the area pending the outcome of the investigation.
“Anyone found wanting will be made to face the full weight of the law,’’ Abdurrahman said.
Igwe Emmanuel Chidebere Mba was shot dead by men who claimed to be police officers from Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The incident threw the community into crisis as houses and cars belonging to community members alleged to be behind the shooting of the traditional ruler have been set ablaze.
Eyewitnesses said that ‘policemen’ who were led by one Inspector Danladi, invaded the community in an SUV and a Sienna bus at about 2pm on Saturday and sought to see the traditional ruler who was addressing community members inside the community town hall.
Three natives of Oruku community, identified as Emmanuel Nwobodo, Onyema Edeh and Sunday Onunze, reportedly escorted the armed men to the townhall
Immediately they identified the, one of the ‘policemen’ immediately shot him on the thigh and he fell down bleeding.
Pandemonium ensued after the royal father was shot as the natives scattered in different directions amidst sporadic shooting by the armed men, who made attempts to arrest some of them.
The armed men took away the bleeding royal father alongside one Agozie Ani to Parklane hospital Enugu but he could not be admitted due to lack of bed space.
They were referred to the National Orthopedic hospital, Enugu but on arrival doctors at the Emergency Unit only confirmed the royal father dead.
It was learnt that the royal father who was elected by his community on December 26, 2019 reportedly bled to death before he could get medical attention.
His corpse was deposited at the National Orthopedic hospital mortuary while the whereabouts of Ani is yet to be known.
The FORD Pick-up van driven to the aborted meeting by the deceased royal father also driven away by the team is yet to be found.
Checks by some leaders of the community at the state police command headquarters to ascertain the identity and motive of the “invading policemen” proved abortive as they were told that there was no such entry made at any police station to that effect.
As a result of the incident, the aggrieved members of Oruku community reportedly regrouped Saturday evening and attacked the homes of some indigenes believed to be behind the murder of the traditional ruler.
Four houses including the compound of the father of a retired federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Raymond Okenwa were reportedly burnt down. Some vehicles parked within the affected premises were also set ablaze by the mob.
The carnage continued until Sunday morning as more buildings in Oruku were still being set on fire.
