Ebonyi: Police arrest LP Assembly candidate, 3 others, declare 21 wanted over murder of PDP LG chairman
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Police Command have arrested the candidate of Labour Party (LP) for Ezza North West State Constituency in the 2023 general elections, Mr Leonard Kelechi Nwali and three others in connection to the murder of the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Ezza North LGA, Late Peter Nweke.
A statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, on Friday, said the LP House of Assembly Candidate, Mr Nwali, has confessed to the crime.
According to the police, on interrogation Mr Leonard Kelechi Nwali confessed to hiring the assailants who were meant to torture the late Peter Nweke, however, he died in the process.
The Police quoted Mr Nwali as saying that “the late Peter Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition, so he contacted one Akwasi ‘M’ Of Nnachi Umuezeoka Ezza North L.G.A who spear-headed the touture that eventually resulted to the death of Mr. Peter Nweke.”
“The second suspect Onyebuchi Chita ‘m’ of Nkomoro community confessed to have brought in the killers from Nkomoro into Ogboji community where Peter Nweke was killed.
“The third suspect Aloke Obinna ‘M’ Of Ogboji community confessed to have given his motorcycle to one Onyebuchi Chita for escape after the incident.
“While Ifeanyi Nwokpuku ‘m’ the fourth suspect of Ogboji community in Ezza North conspired with one Sampson Nweke ‘m’ who pointed Peter Nweke out to the killers,” the statement added.
Recall that late Peter Nweke was killed by unknown gunmen at his polling unit on March 18, 2023, during the governorship and State Assembly elections in the State.
The Police have also declared 21 persons wanted in connection to the murder of late Peter Nweke.
Those declared wanted are: Chief Azuoba Nwokwu, Chika Nwafor Kizito, Obinna Nwafor Alias Alaba, Chikwado Awo Alias Rseti, Friday Igwe Nwagu, Samchi Mgbada, Enrg. Emeka Eze, Morris Eguji, Paul Nweke Alias Ak-47, Anayo Nwafor Alias NJafdac, Polycarp Obinna Alegu and Uchenna Nweze Alias Shawo
Others are: Usman Opoke, Abba Michael Ifeanyi Alias Agu, Romanus Nwakpa, Nwanga Afam, Gideon Nweze Alias Biggy, Nweke Uchenna Alias Uche Oyenge, Agbom Christain Alias Okiri, Nelson Nwokwu and Ikechukwu Abba
The statement further added that the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Faleye S. Olaleye, psc has assured the public that all the suspects arrested would be arraigned in court at the end of investigation, while those at large would be apprehended and brought to Justice.
He also reiterated the command’s continuous commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of the good people of Ebonyi State and strongly sent out a warning to all criminals that there is no safe haven in Ebonyi State for them.
