Panic as gunmen kidnap popular traditional leader

Armed men, numbering more than 10, on Thursday morning kidnapped the traditional chief of the former Mbutu kingdom in the Aboh Mbaise local government area of ​​Imo state, Damian Nwaigwe.

The monarch was kidnapped from his palace around 2:30 a.m., told a community source who chose to remain anonymous to our correspondent.
The source said: “The traditional ruler of the former Mbutu kingdom in the Aboh Mbaise local government area in Imo state, Eze Damian Nwaigwe, has been kidnapped. The respected king was kidnapped from his palace around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

“There were many who kidnapped him. They came in vehicles and were more than 10. They barricaded his palace, fired at random until they took the monarch in an already smoking vehicle.

The king’s palace is excluded. He built his house far from where the other villagers live, which is why it was not difficult for him to be kidnapped without any resistance from his subjects.

Our correspondent understood that the kidnapping of the king had sown panic in the community, the villagers having remained vigilant from the moment of the incident until dawn.

State Police spokesperson Micheal Abattam confirmed the kidnapping of the monarch when contacted by our correspondent.
Abattam said the command had taken action with the intention of saving the traditional leader unharmed.