Vanguard Fear grips Anambra Community over release of murder suspects on October 30, 2013 / in Crime Guard 12:40 am By Uju Mbanusi Palpable fear has gripped indigenes of Mputu Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the tension that heralded recent release on bail of eight members of the community alleged to have taken active part in the gruesome murder of one of their sons, Odua Sunday Nwaka, last September. One of the suspects said to have been released by the police at Zone 9, Umuahia, is a step son to the deceased who was until his death, the Odua of Mputu. Investigation carried out by Crime Alert revealed that three of the suspects were earlier released before the rest were subsequently granted bail. This is in spite of protests from leaders of the community and family members of the slain monarch that the suspects should not be granted bail because it will constitute a big threat to members of the community who voluntered implicating information that led to their arrest. According to information made available to Crime Alert, the 73-year-old monarch was murdered by persons already identified, some of whom were arrested by the Police at Umuahia, Abia State while others are still at large. The deceased was amongst those vying for the traditional seat of the town before he was killed. Prior to the murder, it was gathered that the suspects reported at Umuahia following allegations made against them on threats to life and properties. A few days later, they were reportedly released on bail. Chief Nwaka was murdered with a multi-faced sword and his body thrown into the Okpolodum lake and covered with weeds; an act which fell in line with their threats to unleash death on him. After the murder, a report was lodged at Atani Divisional Police Headquarters and it was requested that the case be transferred to Awka where some of the suspects had appeared and made statements; but as the suspects already had pending cases at Zone 9 Umuahia, it was requested that the case be transferred to them. Unfortunately, after spending a couple of days in their custody, it was alleged that the investigators at Zone 9 asked the arrested suspects to raise the sum of N500,000 to effect their release on the condition that they report to the station a few days after; this prompted associates of the suspects to rally round and at the end, raised the said sum. Consequently, the suspects were released into the welcoming hands of friends amidst jubilation with gun and canon shots, while the other party felt highly disappointed and aggrieved. In a petition written by the family of the late Odua Sunday Osune Nwaka, to the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, signed by the deceased son, Emmanuel Ifeanyi Nwaka; the family prayed the I.G to wade into the case and ensure that justice was done. The Nwaka Family alledged that though the autopsy report was yet to be released, preliminary discussions with the doctor allegedly arranged by Police at Awka to carry out the autopsy is already sounding funny, in spite of available evidences. According to the petition, the doctor sounded warnings of possible cause of death to frivolities and unrelated ailments and drowning. “We live on the bank of the river and anybody brought up within our environment or Ogbaru for that matter cannot drown easily in the river. Suspicions of inducement with malicious intention to produce fake and altered autopsy report are already being established,” the aggrieved family lamented. It was revealed that already, there were insinuations that the murder case would be closed with money and nothing will happen, leaving the dead long forgotten and described as another victim. A family source to the deceased intimated Crime Alert that when they contacted the Police officer investigating the case, he simply said he acted on orders from above. Meanwhile, notable indigenes of the town have fled to neighbouring towns and beyond for fear of been persecuted by the released suspects who are said to have been jubilating and boasting openly that the case has ended. Efforts made to speak with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the Zone, Tambori Mohammed, failed as he was said to be on leave. Both the Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Administration, Mkpa Inakwu and the Police spokesman in the zone, Jiakpunna, could also not be reached.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 08:05:04 +0000
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