The traditional ruler of Igbariam community, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Kelly Nkeli Nzekwe, has escaped an assassination attempt in his palace.

The monarch, who has been on the throne for more than 20 years, was said to have been attacked shortly after a meeting with his cabinet.

Narrating his ordeal on Monday, the monarch said: “I had finished holding a meeting with my colleagues when the assassins stormed my palace.

“I had excused myself to go and ease myself and as soon as I returned to take my seat, the next thing I heard was a gunshot.

“The seat I sat on was shattered. If you see the seat which is now with the police, you wouldn’t believe the person on it survived.”

The monarch while thanking God for sparing his life and that of his cabinet members said he has cancelled a journey he had planned to embark on as a result of the injury he sustained.

“I’ve forgiven whoever that committed the dastardly attack because they were ignorant of what they did. If they had known they wouldn’t have succeeded, they wouldn’t have made the attempt in the first instance.

“All I plead is that they come back home and face the community,” Igwe Nzekwe said.

He hailed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area for his timely response to his distress call.

The community, in showing solidarity with their king, has called for a thorough police investigation into the matter with a view to arresting the perpetrators, describing it as sacrilegious.

Addressing journalists at the traditional ruler’s palace on Monday, a member of the community, Uche Okafor, said investigation carried out by the community alleged that an indigene (name withheld) of the community masterminded the attack.

Okafor disclosed that no fewer than 16 persons had been arrests in connection to the incident.

According to him, “Eight persons were shot while three sustained injuries. Sixteenths persons have been arrested and some have confessed to the crime.”

Information has it that the suspect had been at large since the incident happened and efforts to trace his whereabouts had been unsuccessful.

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