The sleepy community of Achara, in Obowo local government area of Imo State, was thrown into confusion few days before the Easter holidays after the traditional ruler of the area, His Royal Highness Eze Kenneth Nnaji, allegedly stabbed one of his subjects, Emeka Ukachukwu, on the head following a disagreement between the monarch and the leadership of the town union.
?According to the victim, who is the provost of the town union, the violent attack took place in the night while he was going round the town to announce the date of the annual festival of the community, known as Achara Day.
Ukachukwu claimed that he was accosted by the traditional ruler, who was in the company of one of the members of his cabinet, and stabbed? him on the head and near his left eye, adding that he was later dragged to the traditional ruler’s palace for interrogation.
LEADERSHIP gathered that some members of the community, who observed the violent attack on the town union’s provost, later rushed to the palace of the traditional ruler where they rescued the victim.
?It was further learnt that trouble started after the traditional ruler disagreed with the leadership of the town union on the date fixed by the union for the holding Achara Day. Ukachukwu was allegedly attacked following the insistence of the union that the festival should be held on the date it had earlier decided on. But the monarch has denied ever attacking Ukachukwu, saying that he can never descend so low to stab one of his subjects.
?He said his community had remained peaceful since he became the traditional ruler.
Meanwhile, in a petition addressed to Governor Rochas Okorocha, and the state police command, and signed by the president general of the community, the Achara Town Union demanded a thorough investigation of the circumstances leading to the stabbing of Ukachukwu.
Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Samuel Oodee, said the divisional police officer (DPO) was yet to transfer the case to the state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) for action.