Imo monarch killed by kidnappers, corpse dumped at market square

Traditional ruler of Atta ancient kingdom in the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Edwin Azike has been murdered by gunmen.

Azike’s corpse was found at the market square in the community on Friday morning after he was abducted on Thursday December 9.

An eyewitness told Punch that four persons were shot dead on Thursday December 9, in the community, after the monarch was kidnapped.

The source said;

“The traditional ruler of Atta ancient kingdom in the Njaba LGA, Eze Edwin Azike, has been murdered. His lifeless body was dumped at the market square and the villagers discovered it this morning. He was kidnapped on Thursday and thereafter, the community was invaded which led to the killing of four persons.”

Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council/ Community Policing in the state, Eze Emma Okeke confirmed the incident, adding that monarchs in the state are saddened by the killing of their colleague.

Okeke further described the monarch’s murder as an abomination. He said;

“We have got the sad news about the killing of Eze Edwin Azike. This is abominable in Igbo culture. I don’t know why traditional rulers are being hunted like this. We are not politicians, we are only custodians of the culture of our people. We were informed on Thursday when he was kidnapped, only for him to be found dead, this morning.”