The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, for the murder of his 56-year-old friend, Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state. The suspect allegedly killed Madu to conceal a fraudulent land transaction.
Police Receive Report of Missing Man
According to the state police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police received a report from the wife of the deceased on August 18 alleging that her husband had gone out on the evening of August 17 but had not returned home. Ikenga said police operatives, in collaboration with members of the local vigilante group and the deceased's family members, immediately commenced inquiries and a search operation to establish his whereabouts.
“In the evening of same day, however, the wife returned to the station in distress and reported that her husband had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu. Police operatives immediately mobilized to the scene, where the deceased was found lying lifeless with a deep axe cut to his head. The corpse was subsequently evacuated and deposited in the hospital for preservation,” Ikenga said.
Suspect Confesses to Hiring Killers
Ikenga said in the course of the investigation, the Command arrested Ifeanyi Nwankwo, a friend of the deceased, who confessed to his involvement in the planning and killing of Mr. Kelechi Madu. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained money fraudulently from the deceased under the guise of assisting him to acquire a piece of land. In an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transaction and suppress the money obtained from the deceased, the suspect reportedly hired two other persons to murder him,” the police spokesperson added.
Police Intensify Manhunt for Accomplices
The police image maker added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that the investigation be intensified to identify and arrest all persons involved in the conspiracy and murder. The command is currently pursuing the two hired individuals who reportedly carried out the killing, as the case continues to unfold.
