The traditional ruler of Mbutu ancient kingdom in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Damian Nwaigwe, who was kidnapped from his palace on Thursday, has been rescued.

The monarch was rescued on Saturday and reunited with his family, according to the spokesperson for the police in the state, Micheal Abattam.

Abattam said, “The Eze Damian Nwaigwe of Mbutu ancient Kingdom, who was kidnapped on December 9, has been rescued unhurt and reunited with his family.”

The police spokesman did not state if any ransom was paid for the monarch’s freedom.

A community source had told our correspondent on Friday that the kidnappers had demanded N100m ransom.

The source disclosed that after persuasion, the criminals reduced the ransom to N20m.

The release of the Mbutu monarch came just 24 hours after Eze Edwin Azike of Atta ancient Kingdom in the Njaba LGA, was killed and dumped at a market square in his community.

The slain traditional ruler was kidnapped on Thursday.

READ ALSO N69.4bn debt: Jimoh Ibrahim loses bid to recover assets, bank accounts

Our correspondent recalled that on November 19, the traditional ruler of Achi Mbieri, Henry Madumere, was kidnapped at Iho in the Ikeduru LGA, while on the way to a public function.

The octogenarian monarch who is the father to a former deputy governor of the state, Eze Madumere, was released after six days.

Also, on October 19, hoodlums invaded the Njaba LGA headquarters at Nnenasa and opened fire on traditional rulers who were having a stakeholders meeting.

While two monarchs were wounded and rushed to a hospital, two others died on the spot.