Ohanivo youths vow justice for yet another slain Ebonyi monarch, decry ‘growing evil’

•Slain Monarch, Eze Josephat Ikegwu

The socio-cultural youth body for Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo LGAs of Ebonyi state, Ohanivo Youth Forum, has condemned what it described as a “growing evil” of targeted killings of traditional rulers in the State.

It vowed to work with security agencies to ensure those behind the recent murder of HRH Eze Josephat Ikegwu of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community in Onicha LGA are fished out and brought to justice.

In a press statement signed by its National President, Comrade George Chimeebere Nwoye; Secretary General, Collins Odii Christopher; and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lazarus Ugochukwu Ngwee, the socio-cultural youth body for Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo LGAs of Ebonyi state decried the deaths of two monarchs in close succession within the new year.

The Forum noted that HRH Eze Francis Igwe of Alike Ikwo Autonomous Community and HRH Eze Josephat Ikegwu were both killed “without justifiable essence,” and questioned why custodians of peace and order had become targets.

“Late Eze Josephat Ikegwu was a man of peace and decorum, who contributed immensely to the development of Ohanivo nation by standing for truth and insistence on sustainable peace as evidenced in the Abomege-Ishinkwo inter-communal crisis,” the statement read.

The youth group expressed worry over the state of security of lives and property, noting that despite Governor Francis Nwifuru’s efforts through his ‘people’s charter of needs’ governance, some unscrupulous elements still inflict harm and instigate unrest by gruesome killings of fellow citizens.

 

The group recalled with sadness the disappearance of former paramount ruler of Isuokoma Autonomous community in the same Onicha LGA, Ezeogo Ambrose Okorie Ogbu, and the murder of HRH Eze Omaze Ibo Ubani of Akaeze in Ivo LGA inside his home, both cases still without resolution.

 

“We make bold to declare that as Ohanivo Youth, we will not fold our hands and see our people being slaughtered like fowl for no apparent reasons. We’ll stop at nothing to assist the security agents to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act so that they will face the full weight of law.

 

“Our societal norms and values have been bastardized by the act of pinching evil, and as such, it’s unacceptable to us. We can’t continue to bury our leaders and parents in tantalizing wails.

 

“Injury to one is injury to all”, the Forum emphasized.

 

The forum, in it’s five-point request in the release, urged security agencies to swiftly investigate the killing of Eze Josephat Nnanna Ikegwu and others still unresolved, pledging its full collaboration with the agencies to achieve desired results.

 

It further called on the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to expedite action on the bill to provide official security for paramount rulers to forestall further attacks, while local local government council chairmen should tighten internal security within their borders.

 

Urging all youth organizations in the state to unite in confronting the “cancerous” trend, the forum appealed to Ishinkwo Autonomous Community to remain calm, with assurance of its collaboration with government at all levels to bring perpetrators to book.

 

“We are in solemn resolve to ensure that our people sleep with their two eyes closed at all times,” the statement concluded.

 

Recall that the assailants reportedly attacked and killed the royal father, Ikegwu, at his residence on Wednesday night, the 1st of April, 2026.

Sources within said the incident occured around 10pm when armed men stormed his house and shot him through the bedroom window while he was resting.