From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Palpable apprehension has enveloped the Otulu community of Ezinihitte Mbaise council area of Imo State as the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Joe- Benz Ochulor, who was reportedly abducted from his palace on Saturday morning by gunmen, has been found dead. The lifeless body of the monarch was dumped inside a burrow pit at the boundary between Chokoneze and Mbutu Mbaise.
The late monarch was a retired school principal and former secretary of the education board in Ezinihitte Mbaise council.
A source close to the family, who confirmed the ugly incident, disclosed that the body of Eze Ochulor was recovered from a burrow pit between Chokoneze and Mbutu, which is the boundary between Ezinihitte and Aboh council areas, both of which are in Mbaise, Imo State.
The source, who did not want his name in print, said: “The lifeless body of Eze Ochulor was found by the police in-between Chokoneze and Mbutu, which is a boundary between Ezinihitte Mbaise and Aboh Mbaise council areas. It is a terrible thing. He was kidnapped from his palace on Saturday morning. It is terrible my brother, nobody is safe. There is fear in the entire community”.
With the kidnapping of Eze (Sir) Joe-Benz Ochulor, Olu 1 of Otulu Amumara, Mbaise, the lull in the business of kidnapping traditional rulers in the state, has been broken.
Between 2022 and the early months of 2023, the kidnapping of traditional rulers in the state was rampant. At least three of them died in the hands of their kidnappers.
However, the Spokesman of the Imo State police command, Mr Henry Okoye (ASP) could not be reached for confirmation of the incident of the late monarch Olu 1of Otulu Amumara was found last night by the road side at Mbutu community in Aboh Mbaise council.