By PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI— FIVE suspected gunmen yesterday disrupted activities at the palace of traditional ruler of Ishiagu kingdom of Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State, Eze Moses Ngele.
Vanguard learnt that when the gang of unidentified gunmen invaded the palace with AK 47 assault rifles, there was confusion as people within the palace scampered for safety.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the gunmen forced their way into the palace, shooting sporadically, adding that it was not clear whether the hoodlums came to kidnap the traditional ruler whose coronation had been a subject of litigation.
The traditional ruler accused chairman of Ivo local government area, Celestine Eze, and a commissioner in Governor Martin Elechi's government of sending the gunmen after him.
But in a quick reaction, Chairman of Ivo LGA, Celestine Eze, denied the allegation that he organised a group of men to kidnap the king.
"It is not true. Somebody will just wake up and start alleging something against me. Why should I do such a thing? I don't have anything to do with such an incident," he said.
Confirming the incident, Divisional Police Officer of Ishiagu, Mr. Okey Obieke, stated that the men who came to the traditional ruler's palace were simply boys who came to disrupt the meeting holding at the palace.
According to him, three of the youths were arrested but none of them was seen with guns.
Recounting his ordeal, the traditional said: "Five boys came to my compound at about 12 noon today (yesterday). One of them surrounded the people down stairs. So when he surrounded them with gun, he succeeded in carrying the N10 million I brought to do projects for the people of my area, then he threw the big parcel to one of his gang members who ran away from the fence.
"Then one of them climbed another fence through the window and met me in my room with a gun. He said that they were sent to kidnap me.
"Then the boy said I should give them N150 million to spare my life. So as I was shivering, then police arrived because those down stairs had alerted the police. When the police came, they apprehended one
of them that was still holding the gun.
"The one in the room tried to jump the fence to start running, then police caught him as well. The boys confessed that their emissary told them to kill me and that if I resist kidnapping, I should be killed immediately".
"When the police came, the three boys that were arrested started begging the police. So the boys told the police categorically that they should please have mercy on them, that they were sent to come and kill me in my palace.
"That was what happened today and the whole of Ishiagu and the police station everywhere was ready to kill the people. The people were asking why did they come to kill our king, what did king do. They could not say anything."
Vanguard Nigeria
This is serious but deep investigation should be done to reveal the people that sent them. Poverty has led many Nigerian youths to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate evil deeds.