The traditional ruler of Umuezekoha community, Eze Ewa, has been killed by some yet-to-be- identified gunmen, who invaded his residence in the Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident was said to have happened on Monday night.
Confirming his death on Tuesday, the Executive Governor of the state, Dave Umahi, vowed that he will leave no stone unturned to fish out the killers of the Chairman of the Ezza North Traditional Rulers Council in the state.
Umahi, who described the killing of the monarch as barbaric, stated that it is likely connected to political differences.
He said the information of the Ewa’s death reached him via a telephone call by one of the children of the late traditional ruler, who called the governor from his hideout.
He said, “The son called me from where he was hiding and said gunmen had killed his father and were also looking for his children. I had to immediately send the police, the Army and the men from the Department of State Services to take over their compound and rescue them.
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“I tried to ask questions about him and he said his father was supporting the candidate of a particular party and his decision did not go down well with another party and it is being suspected that it could be the source of his killing. I have directed the Commissioner of Police to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors.”
The governor claimed that the killing of the monarch might be politically-motivated, stressing that no life was worth wasting because of political office.
“This is a man that is above 80 years; a man well respected beyond the shores of this state and just for political reasons, the man was shot dead.
“It is so disturbing and it is important that the security agents do the needful and arrest further killings in the state,” he added.
Umahi described the slain royal father as an honest and pleasant man who had contributed to the development and unity of the state.
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpayeya, said in Abakaliki on Tuesday that the command was aware of the incident.
“Yes, we are aware of the killing and investigation has commenced to fish out the perpetrators of such heinous crime,” she said.