Gunmen kill monarch, 3 others in Enugu

Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State was, Friday night, thrown into mourning as
gunmen struck, killing the traditional ruler of Isienu Amofu, Igwe Peter Onuoha, and three others. The other victims were identified as Ejike Udeme Uzor, Evelyn Udeme Uzor and Daniel Ogbu.

Several others shot by the suspected assassins, who invaded the community under the cover of darkness, were said to be receiving treatment at the Catholic Church-owned Annunciation Specialists Hospital, Emene, Enugu.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the incident threw the community into confusion following the sporadic shooting.

Those residing near the palace of the royal father reportedly fled their homes on hearing the sound of gunshots but some unlucky ones were hit by stray bullets.

At the end of the shooting, the fleeing natives returned only to find that Igwe Onuoha, Ejike Udeme Uzor, Evelyn Udeme Uzor, Daniel Ogbu were dead. The personal assistant to the monarch, identified as Vincent, was reportedly shot while fleeing the palace but he survived.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the gun attack, saying the royal father and three others lost their lives in the bloody incident that occurred at Nkerefi.

According to Amaraizu,”the corpse of the royal father had been deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu while three other corpses were deposited at Agbani Health Centre in Nkanu West local government area”.

The police spokesman said operatives from the state police command”are already on the matter to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths but, from available information, there seems to be different accounts of the incident from the people of the community.”