The security situation in Imo State worsened Monday night, following brutal murder of Eze Stanley Akuneto, traditional ruler of Umueze-Abazu, Ogwa, Mbaitoli local government area of the state.
Vanguard investigations revealed that the two gunmen, who were operating on a motorcycle, stormed the royal father’s palace at about 9pm when most people had gone to sleep.
It was further gathered from a villager, who did not want his name in print, that the gangsters did not betray their principal mission when they asked after the traditional ruler.
“When they were taken to where the traditional ruler was relaxing, they quickly shot him at close range and sped away on their motorbike into the dark night,” the villager recounted with grief.
Another woman, who could not hold her emotion as she spoke, described the late royal father as “a lover of his people, soft spoken, sincere to a fault, unassuming and a fine gentleman”.
She wondered why anybody or group of persons would have conspired to snuff life out of the man, even as she denied that there was any form of crisis in the autonomous community.
Efforts made by Vanguard to get in touch with the community’s President General, Engr. George Obinna Asi, failed as he was said to be “out of town on a business trip.”
When Vanguard called the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Sam Oodee, for his comments, the fellow that picked his phone claimed the gadget had a problem which he was fixing and urged our correspondent to call in the next 30 minutes.
