It is evident that as insecurity rages in the country, traditional rulers, presidents-general and youth leaders are becoming the major targets of gunmen and bandits as communities witness more violent attacks, gruesome killings and kidnappings across the country
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
For ages, traditional rulers are known to wield enormous spiritual and physical powers. However, insecurity is gradually weakening the “power” of the crown, making traditional rulers victims of violent attacks, gruesome killings and kidnapping.
According to Amnesty International, by late 2025 there were over 1,500 cases of targeted killings of traditional rulers (monarchs), presidents-General of Town Unions, Youth Leaders in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East and North-Central regions by armed groups and gunmen.
Based on reports regarding violent attacks on traditional rulers in Imo State, Tentacle learnt that on October 19, 2021, two traditional rulers met their untimely death after yet-to-be-identified gunmen shot them dead.
The two monarchs were the Obi of Okwudor Autonomous Community, Eze E. Anayochukwu Durueburuo and Eze Sampson Osunwa of Ihebineowere Autonomous Community. The traditional rulers were having a stakeholders meeting at the council headquarters at Nnenasa in the Njaba Local Government Area of the State when the gunmen struck.
According to an eyewitness, the armed men moved into the hall and left the two other traditional rulers of Nkume Community and Eze Akpaka with broken heads and hands. Reports had it that some of the monarchs at the stakeholders meeting were taken away by the gun men to an unknown location.
While HRH Eze Victor Ijioma of Orsu Obodo in Oguta Local Government Area was assassinated in December 2021, his body was set on fire in his car. HRH Eze Ignatius Asor of Obudi-Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area was killed in his palace in November 2022. And Eze James Nnamdi, Eze Mmirioma of Nguru Nweke in Aboh Mbaise was killed by gunmen in his palace in July 2023.
And the killing of two monarchs in the state of recent indicates that the Royal Fathers are endangered. And the rising insecurity targeting traditional rulers in the state is not over.
The story is the same in Anambra State, where President-General of the 179 Communities in Anambra State appear to have been marked for elimination following the killing of the President-General of Ogidi Community in Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Ikwuka Okoye popularly known as “Anumiri” on Friday 6, February 2026.
Tentacle learnt that no fewer than five Presidents-General of different communities have been murdered by suspected cultists in the past three years which are linked to their fight against cultism in their respective towns.
Earlier before the killing of the Ogidi Community President-General, the Presidents-General of Nimo, Obosi, Aguleri and Abatete towns in Njikoka, Idemili North and Anambra East Council Areas had been murdered. The slain Presidents-General had been neck deep in the battle against cultism and at every superlative performance, the Presidents-General are killed in the most violent manner by members of the cult group.
At Nimo market in Njikoka Local Government Area, a former member of the House of Assembly and President-General of the town then, Hon. Frank Igboka was riddled with bullets while in his car. While that of Aguleri was killed after a court session at the Ekwulobia High Court.
Recently a notorious cultist who was said to have been terrorizing Ogidi Community, popularly known as Emma Amasco, aged 25, his arrest and death led armed bandits suspected to be members of Neo-Black Movement Cult, popularly known as Aye on the evening of Friday 6, February 2026 went on rampage in Ogidi.
According to reports, the cultists who attacked the community injured many indigenes, while also killing the President-General, Chief Ikwuka Okoye and one other unidentified person.
Amasco, a cultist and petty robber after robbing unsuspecting persons of their phones went to Sir Emeka Offor Plaza in Onitsha to sell them off before he was apprehended.
He was later brought back to Ogidi on the request of the traditional ruler and the now deceased President-General, who has insisted on expelling cultism and violent crimes in the town. However, he died in mysterious circumstances, leading his members to vow revenge on the community.
A source from Abatete town in Idemili North Local Government Area who pleaded anonymity told Tentacle that the menace of cultists in Anambra has become an existential threat… “We don’t know why these gun men are targeting the Presidents-general of the town unions in Anambra. It is sad, these cultists are faceless gun men and life means nothing to them.”
“Two years ago, they also killed the President-General of Umuoji Town Union, Chief Sylvester Onyima. And the same year they came after the President-General of Abatete Town, Chief Chima Ezigbo.
“He was first kidnapped around July 2024 and taken to Obosi, another community but he miraculously escaped and came back the same day. Then towards the end of the year, he was shot at the Eke-Agu Market Square. He survived the attack but lost an eye unfortunately, three other people with him-two security men and a plumber he wanted to fix something in his house, were all killed.
Meanwhile, police authorities in Anambra who condemned the killing vowed to go after the killers. The Anambra State Command in a press release by its spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga commiserated with the community, reiterating the link between the murder of the President-General and the recent capture and killing of a known notorious cultist within the community, Emma Amasco. The police command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.
In Rivers State, gun men suspected to be cultist in Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area have murdered a youth leader and his aide as the dare devil gun men continue to raid havoc across the country.
Tentacle gathered that the gun men numbering seven stormed a popular drinking joint along Ogolo Street on two vehicles. The assailant sighted their target, the youth president, pointed a gun at him and ordered him to enter one of their two vehicles.
But Chigozie Olukwu, said to be a personal guard to the youth president tried to stop the gun men from attacking his boss, but was shot dead by the attackers. The attackers then forcibly abducted Comrade Ifeanyi Azuazu and sped off. While the personal guard was killed during the attack, the youth president was taken away alive but later murdered by his captors.
The Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Ironge Koko confirmed the killing of Chigozie Olukwu and the abduction and beheading and recovering of the corpse of Omku youth President, Ifeanyi Azuazu.
In the same vein, tragedy struck Igwuruta community in Rivers State on Wednesday 11th 2026, after motorcycle riding assailants stormed the area and killed a local youth leader. The victim, identified as Nchelem Samuel Festus served as Secretary Omuolu Omuwei Clan and was said to be active in youth affairs.
Recall that gun men on Sunday 25, January, 2026 at about 5:30pm reportedly open fire on the paramount ruler of Bangha Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, HRH King Suanu T. Y. Baridam, which those on the known described as a deadly attack and horrific.
Tentacle gathered that this marks a second time Baridam, a first-class mornarch has survived an assassination attempt.
A social commentator, Christian Okoro told Tentacle that it is worrisome that a revered institution in Igbo land is under attack. Again, he said that it is worrisome because no one knows where these attacks are coming from and their motives.
A Human Right Advocate, Celestine Peters described the development as a sacrilege, he said: “The attack, abduction and killing of some traditional rulers, President-General is repugnant, reprehensible and utterly condemnable.
“No matter the grievance of the young people who are perpetrating the heinous crimes, nothing can justify the brutish nature of their actions.”
In Rivers State, residents have expressed shock and concern over the incident that brings back memories of the past. The killing of the youth leaders has heightened tension in the state with residents calling for swift justice and decisive action to curb cult-related violence and urgently step up security to prevent further attacks on traditional rulers and youth leaders in the state.
