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The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state, barely two days after his disappearance was reported.
The development followed the arrest of the deceased’s 32-year-old friend, Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, who allegedly confessed to masterminding the killing and engaging other persons to execute the crime.
According to the Command, the deceased’s wife had reported at the police station on August 18, 2026, that her husband left home on the evening of August 17 and had not returned.
Following the report, police operatives, working in collaboration with members of the local vigilante group and the deceased’s family, immediately commenced inquiries and a search operation to establish his whereabouts.
However, later that same day, the distressed wife returned to the station with the report that her husband had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.
Police operatives promptly mobilised to the scene, where Madu was found lying lifeless with a deep axe wound to his head.
His remains were evacuated and deposited at a hospital mortuary for preservation, while detectives commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
In the course of the investigation, operatives arrested Nwankwo, a friend of the deceased, who allegedly confessed to his involvement in the planning and execution of the murder.
Preliminary investigation, according to the police, revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained money fraudulently from Madu under the guise of assisting him to acquire a parcel of land.
The suspect allegedly decided to eliminate the deceased in an attempt to conceal the fraudulent transaction and suppress the money obtained from him, leading to the alleged hiring of two other persons to carry out the murder.
The Police Command said further investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the crime and identify all those connected to the alleged conspiracy and murder.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, has directed that the investigation be intensified, with a mandate to identify and arrest every person involved in the crime.
CP Nnanna assured residents that the Command would continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnership in the fight against violent crime and other criminal activities across the state.
He further assured that all persons found culpable would be brought to justice and made to face the full weight of the law.
