The Anambra State Police Command has verified the apprehension of four individuals suspected of involvement in the murder of Chief Silas Onyima, the President-General of Umuoji community in Idemili North Local Government Area.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, it was confirmed that the suspects were apprehended by police detectives in collaboration with the Umuoji vigilante group.
The victim, Chief Silas Onyima, was tragically murdered in his residence last Friday when assailants invaded the premises. Reports indicate that the perpetrators shot him in the bathroom while he was bathing, and inflicted several machete wounds.
Ikenga mentioned that the suspects were found in possession of the deceased’s mobile phone and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card. Furthermore, during their interrogation, they confessed to the crime and implicated four other individuals, who are currently being pursued by the police.
He said, “Police detectives of Anambra State Command working with Umuoji Vigilante have apprehended the suspected killers of the town’s President-General, who was murdered in his home at the weekend.
“Four suspects have been arrested so far. The handset and ATM card of the deceased were recovered from them. In their confession, they named four other accomplices who are now being hunted for by the police.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who was away in Ibadan on official assignment for the opening ceremony of the 14th Biennial Police Games rushed back home when the news of the murder broke, to coordinate police effort at unravelling the crime.
“The CP who commended the Police in Ogidi and Umuoji Vigilante for working together to apprehend the suspected perpetrators has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to deploy its Forensic team to scene of crime and take over the investigation.
“He has mandated the Homicide Team in State CID to apprehend the four accomplices still on the run and unravel the motive behind the gruesome crime.”
He further stated that the Commissioner of Police has reassured presidents-general from all over the state that their security is a top priority for the Police, as they serve as representatives of their communities in governance through their town unions.