Fear Grips Abia Community As Over 30 Bodies Linked To Suspected Ritual Killings Found In Imo River

The traditional ruler of Oriendu Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe, has raised serious concerns following the discovery of over 30 unidentified bodies in the Imo River since last year.

Speaking to journalists at his palace yesterday after the latest discovery of a woman’s corpse, the monarch described the trend as alarming and deeply troubling.

According to Eze Ajomiwe, the victims, mostly young girls, are often found naked with missing body parts or packed in bags. In some instances, decomposing bodies have also been found near the NNPC pipeline.

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“The victims are mostly young girls. The ritualists from Imo State usually come at night to dump their victims’ bodies inside the Imo River, and in the morning, we wake up to find them,” he lamented.

Despite several reports to security agencies, the monarch revealed that no arrests have been made. He noted that while the community’s vigilante group had attempted to stop the perpetrators, they lacked the necessary equipment to confront the heavily armed suspects.

“We’re appealing to the state government to empower the vigilante group with the necessary logistics and resources. You don’t go into such a fight empty-handed when the enemy is well-armed,” Eze Ajomiwe stated.

The traditional ruler further disclosed that he had formally reported the situation to security authorities, including the Department of State Services (DSS). His latest appeal was in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly on February 7.

While appreciating the state government’s upward review of stipends for traditional rulers, Eze Ajomiwe noted that the amount remained insufficient to tackle security challenges. He emphasized that monarchs do not have security votes like governors, making it difficult for them to equip their community vigilante groups adequately.

In response to the revelations, the Abia State Police Command has promised to investigate the matter. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chilaka, said she would inquire from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area to confirm the authenticity of the monarch’s claims. She also sought to determine whether any formal complaint had been lodged at a police station before providing further updates.

Eze Ajomiwe urged the Abia and Imo State Governments and security agencies to act swiftly to stop the gruesome killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.