At least 30 unidentified bodies, believed to be victims of suspected ritual killings, have been discovered in the Imo River at Oriendu autonomous community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe, revealed this shocking development while speaking to journalists in his palace.
He noted that the gruesome discoveries have been ongoing since last year, with the most recent case being that of a woman whose body was found recently.
“The bodies, like the recent one, are either completely naked and without their private parts or placed in a bag. There have also been cases of two decomposing bodies found beside the NNPC pipeline,” Ajomiwe stated.
Despite the alarming situation, he lamented that no arrests have been made so far by security agencies. He expressed concern that the failure to apprehend suspects has emboldened the perpetrators, creating a climate of fear within the community.
The monarch disclosed that efforts by the community’s vigilante group to track down the suspects have yielded no results due to a lack of resources.
“Our vigilante members are not as equipped as these criminals, making it difficult for them to match their strength,” he said. “So, we are appealing to the state government to empower our local security with the necessary logistics to enable them to fight this menace.”
Ajomiwe further noted that the absence of proper funding for community security has worsened the situation, emphasizing that traditional rulers do not receive security votes like governors.
“We appreciate the government’s recent upward review of stipends for traditional rulers, but the amount is not enough to tackle security challenges in our communities. Without adequate funding, we remain vulnerable,” he added.
The monarch disclosed that he had formally petitioned government authorities, including the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, on February 7, urging urgent intervention to curb the disturbing trend.
Residents of the community have also called on security agencies to intensify investigations and ensure that those responsible for the killings are brought to justice.
