Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers claims monarch arrested for kidnapping was not its member

TRADITIONAL rulers in Imo State have disassociated themselves from the so-called monarch of Obor autonomous community in Oguta Local Government Area His Royal Highness Eze Andrew Okuegbunauwa who was recently arrested for kidnapping.

Yesterday morning, Eze Okuegbunauwa was paraded with a gang of criminals by the Imo State Police Command, after they had all been arrested for engaging in kidnapping. Police also showed the weapons and rounds of ammunition seized from the hoodlums during their raid on their headquarters.

According to the police, four AK47 rifles were recovered during the raid, the monarch was the one who always provided the gang with vehicles for their operations and the hoodlums also had a member identified as Pastor, who was the operational leader. Also, 120 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the gang, as well as a ransom sum of N4.2m.

However, the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers has said that Andrew Okuegbunuwa from Obor Awarra is not a traditional ruler. Eze Lucky Okoro, the secretary of the council's community policing committee, said that although kidnap suspect is from Obor Awarra in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, he was never a traditional ruler recognised by the council.

Eze Okoro added that members of the state council of traditional rulers are revered and respected people whose cardinal duties are to advocate for peace and a crime-free society. He condemned the act of impersonation done with the revered institution, calling on the general public to disregard the claim by the suspect about being a traditional ruler.