Armed attackers slay Imo king, five others, and set their bodies ablaze

In a brutal attack, unidentified gunmen have slain Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community in Imo State's Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, along with five members of his entourage.

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The incident occurred on Friday evening along the Asaa/Awara road, according to a community source who wished to remain anonymous, and was marked by the gunmen setting the victims' corpses ablaze after opening fire.

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The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, has confirmed the attack, stating that a manhunt for the perpetrators has been initiated by the command.

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Okoye revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, visited the scene to assess the situation, underscoring the command's commitment to apprehending the culprits.

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According to Okoye, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, has mobilized tactical units and deployed available operational assets to track down the hoodlums responsible for the attack on the Traditional Ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community along Asaa Awara Road, Ohaji/Egbema LGA.

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The deployment was prompted by a distress report received from Ohaji Division on 10th April, 2026, at approximately 1630hrs, which indicated that armed assailants had attacked the Traditional Ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community along Asaa Awara Road.

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Regrettably, the attack resulted in the death of the monarch, HRH Eze Barrister Paulinus Ekwueme, also known as Ochia I of Ochia Kingdom, as well as five other victims whose identities have yet to be determined.

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Upon receiving the report, the CP promptly dispatched tactical teams to the scene at Assa, where operatives recovered the burnt corpses of the deceased, which have since been evacuated and deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) in Owerri for preservation and autopsy.

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A thorough investigation into the incident has been launched by the Command, with intensive operations currently underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover any weapons in their possession.

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The Commissioner of Police and his Management Team have also conducted an on-the-spot assessment and confidence-building visit to the Ochia community to reassure residents of the Command's resolve to restore calm and enhance sustained security presence in the affected area, Okoye noted.