Armed hoodlums suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB have set ablaze the palace of the traditional ruler of the Etekwuru community in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The attackers also did not spare a Highlander jeep and other properties of the traditional ruler.
Punch reports that the incident happened Thursday night, October 21st, 2021 barely 24 hours after youths and soldiers clashed in the community.
The clash led to the killing of a soldier and in a reprisal attack, the enraged military men burnt some houses in the agrarian community.
Confirming the attack, the traditional ruler added that he was taking refuge at the Divisional Police Headquarters located at Mmahu.
He said that he and his wife who were in the house when the hoodlums struck, escaped death by whiskers.
The monarch who said that he was rescued by police operatives, decried that he left his palace half-naked.
In his words, “At 10.30 pm of Thursday 21/10/21 hoodlums came into my compound, broke my window glasses, pour fuel into my rooms, and set my house on fire.
“They were shooting sporadically and I couldn’t find a way of escape with my wife and child. I started making calls to the police for help but the help could not come until the building burnt beyond control. My 4runner Jeep burnt to ashes.
“The police came around 11.45 pm but could not get the arsonists. I learnt it was those boys responsible for the killing of the soldier whose houses were set on fire by the Army on reprisal that are responsible for the arson.
“I left my house with only boxers as all properties in my house burnt. As the police arrived, I came out from my hidden point and discovered that the next building to my house is also on fire.
“I am calling for help from any good-spirited person to enable me to survive the shock, as I am now in the police station.”
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