Tension has gripped Umugbo, a recently created autonomous community in Ebonyi State, following the mysterious disappearance of a middle-aged man, Eze Tochukwu Gideon, months after he fled the area in the wake of a violent kingship tussle.
Community members say Gideon, once chosen by his kindred as the legitimate successor to the traditional stool, came under intense opposition from a section of the village, which accused him of conduct unbefitting of a monarch.
The conflict escalated, culminating in his banishment earlier this year.
A close associate, Uchenna Okeke, raised fresh concern over Gideon’s fate in a press statement titled “Lost But Not Found,” revealing that he had been on the run since February 3, 2025, after surviving an armed attack at his family home.
Okeke said the attackers, suspected to be cultists or unknown gunmen, killed Gideon’s parents and a male companion identified as Chinonso during the incident.
“He barely managed to escape because he was the clear target,” Okeke said. “Since that night, no one has seen or heard from him. We do not know if he is alive or dead.”
Okeke explained that Gideon had been selected to ascend the traditional throne of Umugbo community but faced strong opposition from some villagers, who insisted he was unfit to rule.
“The community rejected him outright and he was repeatedly threatened,” Okeke said, adding that the dispute escalated despite several warnings and internal disagreements within the village.
Okeke said the events left Gideon unable to seek help from authorities, noting that fear of further attacks forced him into hiding.
“Right now, the armed groups that attacked him are still hunting for him,” he said. “His safety is uncertain, and his whereabouts remain completely unknown.”
He appealed to relevant authorities and human rights organisations to investigate the attack and help establish Gideon’s fate.
The Ebonyi State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of press time.