Bandits kill traditional ruler, five others

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - The traditional ruler of Ochia Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Paulinus Ekwueme, has been k!lled by gunmen.

The assailants reportedly ambushed the monarch at the boundary between Assa and Ochia communities on Friday, April 10, shortly after he returned from an overseas trip earlier in the week.

The hoodlums also k!lled five other yet-to-be-identified individuals in the community during the attack.

Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye,  in a statement on Saturday, said the gunmen killed the victims when they invaded the community on Friday afternoon.

He said police authorities received a distress report from Ohaji Police Division at about 4:30 p.m., indicating that the community was under attack by the gunmen.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Audu Bosso, immediately deployed tactical units of the police with available operational assets to the area.

“‎Upon receipt of the report, the commissioner of police immediately mobilised and dispatched tactical teams to the scene at Assa, where operatives recovered the burnt corpses of the deceased.

“The remains have been evacuated and deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, for preservation and autopsy,” he said.

Mr Okoye said the police in the state had begun “comprehensive investigation” into the incident, whilst intensive operations are ongoing to track down the attackers.

“Adequate security measures have also been emplaced to forestall any future occurrence of such a tragic incident in the area and its environs,” he stated.

The spokesperson stated that the Commissioner of Police, Bosso, along with his management team, visited the community to reassure residents of the police’s commitment to restoring calm and maintaining a sustained security presence in the area.

He also commiserated with the family of the slain traditional ruler and other victims, assuring that operatives would safeguard lives and property while intensifying efforts to track down those responsible.

The commissioner further urged residents to support ongoing investigations by promptly reporting any suspicious movements or individuals to the police.