Gunmen behind the abduction of two Imo monarchs, Eze Acho Ndukwe of Amagu Ihube and Eze Paul Ogbu of Ihitte Ihube and a youth leader in Okigwe LGA of Imo state weekend, have allegedly demanded a N20 million ransom to be paid before the release of the trio could be effected.
Although the Imo Police Command are yet to release a statement on this, but sources said that operatives have commenced moves to investigate and eventually affect the release of the Imo Monarchs and other victims.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Police in the state, CSP Mike Abattam, said it was yet to be ascertained whether the abduction of the two Imo Monarchs was criminal or political.
the gunmen on Sunday morning wreaked havoc on the communities before kidnapping the two traditional rulers. The gunmen also burnt their palaces and vehicles during the operations.
The comes a few weeks after the abduction of the traditional ruler of Umuezie Mbaise, Eze Charles Iroegbu and his cabinet chiefs on their way to a wedding ceremony.
When he regained freedom, he said he was asked to warn his fellow traditional rulers to stay away from politics and concentrate on their primary job of being the custodian of people’s culture and tradition or else they would be dealt.
In less than one month, there were stories of encounters between gunmen and monarchs in the state. Two of them were killed in Njaba while having a stakeholders’ meeting over a month ago, while more than a week ago, the traditional ruler of Achi Mbieri, Eze Henry Madumere, was kidnapped and released.