By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI—Angry protests have continued to trail the gruesome murder in Owerri, of the traditional ruler of Ibeamaukwu autonopmous community, Umunakanu, Ehime Mbano local government area, Eze Emeka Njoku, in bizarre circumstances.

Members of the late royal father’s cabinet, youths, old men and women, who stormed Owerri to angrily protest the Eze Njoku’s murder, started their protest march from Aladinma Royal Suites and terminated it at Government House, Owerri.

Addressing the placard-carrying protesters on behalf of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, condemned the act and gave an assurance that government would do everything within its powers to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the people, a community leader, Mr. Donatus Ibe, described the assassination of their son and traditional ruler as “a rude shock” and appealed to the state government to ensure that those behind the sordid act were brought to book.

Meanwhile, Imo State Police Command has confirmed that the death of the royal father was “an episode of misadventure” on the part of the police and the dramatis personae are still in detention.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Mr. Aloysius C. Okorie, said: “The DPO of Owerri Urban received a distress SMS on his GSM that armed robbers were operating somewhere at Okipke Street, Off Amanze Njoku Street, in Aladinma area of Owerri Township. The DPO dispatched a patrol team of four men, three in uniform and one in mufti”.

The AIG also disclosed that the vehicle the patrol team used was an unmarked bus, which at the time was driven by a hired driver, who was also in mufti, adding that the team was still combing the area when they sighted two vehicles, a Honda car and a jeep, coming in their direction at full speed.

“The two mobile policemen (in Eze Njoku’s convoy) apparently sensing danger that the people who tried to flag them down were armed robbers, bailed out from the rear back-up jeep in commando style and opened fire.

“The men in the patrol vehicle retaliated in the belief that these were the actual robbers they came to track down,” the AIG said.