Police arrest four for Ebonyi PDP chieftain murder

The Ebonyi State Police Command has paraded four arrested suspects in connection with the murder of the Peoples Democratic Party’s ward chairman in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, Mr Peter Nweke.

Nweke was murdered in the area during the March 18 governorship and House Assembly polls.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, during a press conference in Abakaliki on Friday, also said that no fewer than 21 persons had been declared wanted in connection with the crime.

The arrested four suspects, all male, were Kelechi Nwali, Onyebuchi Chita, Aloke Obinna and Ifeanyi Nwokpuku.

“During the interrogation of the suspects, the first suspect, one Kelechi Nwali ‘m’, a Labour Party House of Assembly Candidate, Ezza North Constituency, confessed to hiring the assailants who were meant to torture the victim, however, he died in the process.

“According to Nwali, the late Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition, so he contacted one Akwasi ‘M’ of Nnachi Umuezeoka in Ezza North, who spear-headed the torture that eventually resulted in the death of Mr Nweke.

“The second suspect, Onyebuchi Chita of Nkomoro community, confessed to have brought in the killers from Nkomoro into Ogboji community where Nweke was killed.

“The third suspect, Aloke Obinna of Ogboji community, confessed to have given his motorcycle to one Onyebuchi Chita for escape after the incident.

“While Ifeanyi Nwokpuku, the fourth suspect of Ogboji community, all in Ezza North, conspired with one Sampson Nweke ‘m’, who pointed Nweke out to the killers,” PPRO stated.

Onovwakpoyeya also pointed out that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Falaye Olaleye, had assured members of the public that all the suspects arrested would be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation, while those at large would be apprehended and brought to justice.

The PPRO added that the commissioner had also reiterated the command’s continuous commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of the people of Ebonyi.

The Command, therefore warned all criminals that there was no safe haven in state for them.

NAN