Over 30 unidentified bodies of victims of suspected ritual killings have been found on the Imo River in the Oriendu autonomous community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, since last year.

The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe, made the shocking revelation while speaking with journalists yesterday in his palace after the body of a woman was found.

?The bodies, like the recent one, are either completely naked and without their private parts or in a bag. There have also been cases of two decomposing bodies seen beside the NNPC pipeline.

?The victims are mostly young girls. The ritualists from Imo usually come at night to dump the bodies of their victims inside the Imo River, and in the morning, we wake to see them,? he added.

Explaining that the security agents had not made any arrests since then, the monarch expressed concern that the situation was getting out of hand and had created fear in and around the community.

According to him, efforts by the community?s vigilante group to arrest the suspects had failed, too, because the group was not as equipped as the suspects were said to be.

?So, we?re appealing to the state government to empower the vigilante group with the necessary logistics and the wherewithal to enable it to match the suspects,? he said.

He argued that nobody ever embarks on such a mission with empty hands, especially when the enemy is fully armed with sophisticated weapons and ready to fight back.

He said that his complaints about the situation to security agents had been unsuccessful, noting that the latest was a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly on February 7.

?We have reported even to the DSS, and they came here and held a meeting with us. We need the Government?s intervention to apprehend those behind this atrocity,? he emphasised.

The monarch appreciated the government?s upward review of monthly stipends for traditional rulers but noted that the amount was not enough for them to handle insecurity.

He maintained that as monarchs do not have security votes like the Governor to equip their communities? vigilante groups, the communities need the government?s intervention for peace and security.

When contacted, the Abia State Police Command said it would make inquiries to confirm the revelation.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in charge of the state, Maureen Chilaka, said she would find out from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the area the authenticity of the information.

She sought to know if the monarch had made any formal complaint at any police station but promised to revert after inquiries from the relevant DPO. (Vanguard)

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