Three arrested after killing, burying kidnapped victim

 Juliana Francis

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anambra State Police Command, have recovered the remains of a victim, who was abducted and then murdered.

 

The Police have also arrested three people in connection with the crime. The suspects are Obasi Faith Ezinne, 23, of Mbaitolu Imo State, Ntomchukwu Anabaraonye, 33, of Okija and Abuchi Obinna, 26, of Ihiala.

 

The suspects on August 30 allegedly abducted 34-year-old Henry Okam of Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. They also killed the victim with a pump action gun and subsequently buried him in a shallow grave.

 

According to the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Haruna Mohammed, the suspects were arrested on September 5, following an intensive manhunt.

 

 

Mohammed said: “The suspects, who voluntarily confessed to the crime, took operatives to a thick forest in Ihiala where the decomposing body of the victim was exhumed and recovered. The remains had been moved to the mortuary, awaiting autopsy. The pump action rifle, used by the suspects in perpetrating the heinous crime, including the victim's phones were also recovered in their possession and registered as exhibits. The case is under investigation after which the suspects and their accomplices would be brought to book.”

 

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, John Abang, said there was no hiding place for criminals in the state, especially since it was under his watch. He said that he would continue to watch, fish out and deal decisively with criminal elements in accordance with the law until they repent or relocate from the state. 

 

In another development, the police have arrested two robbery suspects, who allegedly specialised in One-Chance. The suspects are Chukwuemeka Ikechukwu, 22, of Chibest Street, Tarzan and Tochukwu Okeke, 30, of Nkwelle Ukeh in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

 

Mohammed stated that the gang was fond of snatching handsets and other valuables and usually operated along the Ogidi/Nkpor/Tarzan and Umunya axis.

 

The Police recovered two firearms, 12 handsets and N290, 000 cash suspected to have been stolen from different victims at gun points. 

 

Mohammed explained: “On the September 6, at about 4:30am, following a credible intelligence report, police operatives attached to Ogbunike Division smashed a robbery syndicate and arrested the following suspects. The suspects were part of the gang allegedly involved in a series of armed robbery and handset snatching operating at Ogidi, Nkpor, Tarzan, Umunya, Odomodo, tollgate axis and its environs. Exhibits recovered in their possession includes one automatic pump action rifle with breech No 12776, one English Manurhin Pistol, one dagger, two hand bags, 12 assorted handsets, one purse containing recharge cards of various denomination, one tricycle Keke with registration number NSH 299 QH, one locked Safe containing unspecified amount of money and cash of N296, 000, all reasonably suspected to have been snatched from different victims.

“The case is under investigation after which the suspects will be brought to book. The Command enjoins members of the public, whose handsets and other belongings were either snatched or stolen through similar modus to report at Ogbunike division or at the SARS, Akwuzu, in order to claim their property and also give further evidence to aid Police investigation. It is interesting to note that one major factor responsible  for the overall successes recorded  by the Command is the support of “Ndi Anambra” and residents alike who were observed to have been very cooperative with the personnel of the security agencies.”