The families of two indigenes from Akpawfu community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu state, who were brutally murdered, are demanding justice for their loved ones.
They have accused the local traditional ruler, Igwe Christopher Nnamani, of distorting the truth and insist that he and his associates have answers to provide. Their statements came in response to a media report criticizing the police’s handling of the detained suspects.
The families are now calling for the police to arrest and question the traditional ruler.
The victims, Chief Israel Nnaji and Chukwudi Nweke Oka, were horrifically killed in their homes in June and July this year by armed assailants.
Nnaji was slain on June 21, 2024, while Oka was murdered on July 16, 2024. Shortly after these tragedies, police apprehended six suspects linked to the crimes: Sunday Nwobodo Edeaniafu (alias Devil Spoon), Onyeka Nnaji (aka Apiawa), Nnamdi Nnam (aka Junior), Okenwa Chigozie (aka Ochiwar), Uwabunkeonye Nnamani (aka Asaba), and Nnaemeka Nnamani (aka Nwaeze). They were arraigned in court on September 19, 2024, while Echerem Paul and others remain at large.
The families allege that the traditional ruler, along with a rights group, has misled the public through the media.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the families accused the monarch of shielding the arrested suspects, claiming they were merely members of the community’s neighborhood watch group rather than criminals. The document, signed by Chief Godwin Ede and Chief Ugochukwu Nnaji, contested the ruler’s assertion that the perpetrators were outsiders.
The families stated, “The Police are intensifying efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and bring them to justice for their roles in the terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, and the gruesome murders of Chief Israel Nnaji and Chukwudi Nweke Oka.”
“Families of the two murdered men considered it expedient to respond after duly briefing our legal team who directed us to respond and sate as follows:
“It is curious and laughable that the author of the so called publication claimed to have written to the Inspector General of Police seeking Justice for detained suspects who have allegedly been tortured and shot on their legs by the police in Enugu.
“This counsel purportedly seeking for justice failed and refused to disclose, who briefed him and cross-check his facts properly before rushing to the press to embarrass the police and put up such false and misleading publication that is filled with falsehood, distortion of facts and deceit.
“The said publication is in effectual to counter police diligent investigation being carried out by the Octopus Squad of the Enugu State Command, who have painstakingly sanitized the Akpawfu Community feasted with crime and criminality for the past three years, and where recently more than twenty people, killed and buried in same circumstance Chief Israel Nnaji and Chukwudi Nweke Okah were killed.
“Police investigation so far conducted by the Octopus Squad Enugu State Command has fully established that the person mentioned above have committed the crime as charged and have been a terror in Akpawfu Community, committing all kinds of heinous crime of Armed Robbery, Murder Arson and arson under the guise and cover of being a Community Security Neighborhood Watch.”
Narrating what happened further, they said; “On the 21st day of July 2024, Mrs Coredelia Nnaji wife of Chief Israel Nnaji, reported that at about 01:30 am, that she heard the painful voice of her husband, Chief Israel Nnaji, now deceased, begging the attackers not to kill him.
“As she opened the door to see what was happening to the husband, one of the attackers standing near the door shouted at her to lie down facing the ground; otherwise, she would be killed instantly.
“The attacker picked up a piece of iron rod and started hitting her all over her body and left her with severe pains, the same attackers collected her valuables including money and phones and left for her husband’s room where she met other gang members already matcheting the man and he joined them in hitting the husband with the iron rod and finally killed him, leaving him in his pool of blood.
“They further ransacked his room and made away with some undisclosed amount of money and his motorcycle and escaped from the scene.
“The wife however identified two of the attackers during the operation, led by Nnamdi Nnam (aka Junior), Okenwa Chigozie (aka Ochiwar), Uwabunkeonye Nnamani (aka Asaba), Nnaemeka Nnamani (aka Nwaeze).
“Again on 16th July, 2024, the same group of miscreants led by Mr Sunday Nwobodo aka (Devil spoon) Onyekachi Nnaji aka (Apiawa) and others still at large, again attacked and killed Mr Chukwudi Nweke Oka in his house.
“Akpawfu community is no longer comfortable with this situation as the youths are now restive and ready for a showdown.
“Sequel to this heinous murder of these two prominent members of the community, the case was first reported at Amuagunze Police Station, followed by raising a petition to the Commissioner of Police Enugu and the Inspector General of Police for their necessary directives after which the matter was referred to the Command Octopus Squad to handle.
“The six arrested suspects were thoroughly screened, investigated and fully indicted and now charged to Magistrate Court Enugu with six counts charges.
“On 19/09/2024, however, the trial Magistrate declined jurisdiction and remanded the defendants to the Correctional Centre Enugu, while the case file was ordered to be sent to Director of Public Prosecution for review and prosecution in the High Court, the case was then adjourned to 4th October, 2024 for report of update from DPP.
“It is unfortunate to state that the authors of the publication and Igwe Christopher Nnamani lack knowledge of the operational strategy of the Police and their Rules of engagement.”
When contacted via cell phone, Igwe Nnamani denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his only fault was speaking out against the police’s treatment of his subjects, who are currently in custody yet still presumed innocent.
He emphasized that those arrested in connection with the alleged killings were members of the community’s neighborhood watch and are neither criminals nor affiliated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as alleged.
The traditional ruler claimed that the suspects had been shot by the police while in custody and had made confessions under duress.
He condemned the practice of holding the suspects in a police cell for 19 days before charging them, insisting they were not being treated justly by law enforcement.
As a traditional ruler, he reaffirmed his commitment to speak the truth within the community, regardless of whose interests it might affect.
