One, Chijioke Okenwa, has been declared wanted by the police in Enugu State for the alleged murder of Igwe Steven Nwatu, the traditional ruler of Ogbozine Akpugo, a community in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The royal father was allegedly beaten to death on Monday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said on Wednesday that an arrest warrant had been issued against Okenwa for his alleged role in the murder.
The suspect, an indigene of Ogbozine Akpugo community, was said to own a shop in the Alaba International Market, Lagos. He was said to be 48 years old.
“The Enugu State Police Command is advising members of the public with useful information about how the suspect can be traced to report to the nearest police station or contact the command,” Amaraizu said.
Nwatu was on Monday accosted by some people who were said to be his subjects.
They allegedly beat him up until he lost consciousness.
He was reportedly rushed to Parklane Hospital, Enugu, where he was confirmed dead.
Sources say the traditional ruler and some policemen attached to him were trying to arrest some members of the village, when he was ambushed by the assailants.
The hoodlums reportedly disarmed the policemen attached to the royal father before attacking him.
The policemen were said to have taken to their heels, leaving Nwatu at the mercy of the mob.
Our correspondent learnt that the royal father had been at loggerheads with some of his subjects, who accused him of high-handedness.
Sources in the community claimed that Nwatu usually invited the police to arrest members of the village “over false allegations.”
He was also said to have scuttled moves to put in place a town union leadership in the community.
Recently, some members of the community had protested against him at the Enugu State Government House, urging Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to depose him.
The aggrieved subjects eventually dragged him to court.
Nwatu was said to have just returned from a court sitting when he was attacked and killed on Monday.
Source: Punch