Gunmen Kill Ebonyi Monarch For Shunning Political Party

• Ebonyi Govt tasks security agencies to arrest suspects

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – For allegedly refusing to support an unnamed political party, the Chairman of Ezza Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Igboke Ewa, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen, suspected to be political thugs in the state, reportedly murdered the monarch on Sunday evening, accusing him of failing to support a particular party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Investigations indicated that the Royal father, who is from the Umuezekoha community in the Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, had resisted mounting pressure to openly support the said political party for electoral victory but he bluntly refused their overtures, maintaining that he remains the father of all in his domain

Meanwhile, a statement by the Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, said the governor has directed the security apparatus to move into Ezza North and ensure that anybody found culpable in the Monarch’s murder is brought to book immediately.

According to the commissioner, “It has been brought to the attention of the Governor of Ebonyi State that this evening (Sunday, February 26, 2023) the Chairman of Ezza Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Igboke Ewa was shot dead by people suspected to be political thugs for not supporting a particular party.

“The governor is aware that a number of candidates have been making provocative and inciting statements about the election results in Ebonyi State.

“The Governor of Ebonyi State warns that no position in life is worth the life of another person. The governor is directing the whole security apparatus of the state to move into Ezza North for a rescue mission. Anybody whose hand is in the killing of His Highness must be arrested immediately.

“The governor appeals to all leaders of the state and the candidates, who will never accept the result of the election to send their petitions to INEC or to security agencies rather than making inciting statements that could generate crisis in the state.”

On the likely breach of peace in the State, the statement further said; “The governor will hold anyone doing press conference or social media to incite people responsible for any outbreak of the crisis in the state.

“The governor appeals to Ebonyi people, especially our youths, not to be used to take the life of another person. Please we have no alternative to peace in Ebonyi State.”

Recalled that the traditional ruler had last year escaped the assassination attempt by some assailants and this further angered his attackers who invaded his wife’s shop at Ahiaofu along the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway and burnt it down.