The Anambra State Police Command announced the arrest of various suspects in connection with the killing of Silas Onyima, President-General of the Umuoji community in the state’s Idemili North Local Government Area.
DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police spokesman, confirmed the arrest of certain individuals to our correspondent over the phone on Monday.
On Friday, some shooters suspected of being assassins raided the deceased’s home and executed him.
It was reported that the hoodlums shot him in the bathroom as he was bathing after torturing him with many matchete cuts.
Following the development, the Force stated that it immediately initiated a manhunt for the killers.
Although Ikenga did not reveal the number of people detained thus far, he stated that the arrests were made in accordance with the intelligence collection procedures established by the state commissioner of police, Aderemi Adeoye.
He said, “The police are working on the suspects with a view to getting reasonable information from them, and at the appropriate time, their identities will be made public.
“Yes, we have some people in our custody. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Aderemi Adeoye, is pleased with the success made so far in the investigations. Soon there will be a proper press briefing by the command, please.”
While condemning the killing of the Onyima, the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, directed the state security agencies to take “immediate and decisive action” to apprehend the culprits and ensure swift prosecution of those responsible to deter future recurrences.
Meanwhile, a police source revealed that one of the apprehended suspects was the deceased’s tenant.
Before being apprehended, the suspect was reported to have stolen the deceased’s phones, ATM cards, gun, and many other goods from his home, as well as taking money from the late Onyima’s account.
According to the source, the suspects have been transported to Ogidi’s divisional police station in Anambra state for interrogation.