Gunmen have killed the traditional ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community in Imo State, Paulinus Ekwueme, along with five others in a deadly attack that has shocked residents of the area.
The incident occurred on Friday evening along the Asaa/Awara Road in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area. According to a community source, the attackers ambushed the monarch and his entourage, opening fire before setting their bodies ablaze.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants fled the scene immediately after carrying out the attack, leaving behind charred remains. The motive behind the killing has not yet been established.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Henry Okoye, said the command had launched a full-scale manhunt for those responsible. He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, has already visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Okoye explained that the police received a distress report on April 10, 2026, detailing the attack on the traditional ruler. In response, tactical teams were immediately deployed to the area, where they recovered the burnt bodies of the victims.
The remains have since been evacuated to the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri for preservation and autopsy.
The police command has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident and intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects. Authorities say operations are ongoing to apprehend those involved and recover any weapons used in the attack.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police and his management team have also undertaken a confidence-building visit to the Ochia community, assuring residents of strengthened security measures and a sustained presence of law enforcement to restore calm in the area.
