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From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Eight persons have been arrested by the Police in Enugu State in connection with the assassination of the Traditional Ruler of Adani Autonomous Community in Uzo Uwani Local Government of the State, Igwe Ezugwu Patrick.
Igwe Ezugwu was murdered in Akutara Village of the community, on the eve of Christmas by armed hoodlums suspected to be assassins.
Confirming the arrest of the eight suspects when he visited the scene of the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Kanayo Uzuegbu, described the eight as prime suspects assuring that they would continue to trail the remaining criminal masterminds of the murder.
Uzuegbu said he was at the community with his team to assess the situation for effective police action, assuring that both the masterminds and executioners of the criminal acts would be fished out to face the wrath of the law.
The CP who promised to get to the root of the matter by unraveling all those behind the killing, said the police had also resolved to be ruthless with those that would be found culpable of the crime.
President-General of the community, Chief S.N Utazi, who addressed the CP at the scene of the crime, said his people were impressed by the swift response from the state government immediately the sad news broke out, adding that nobody had anticipated such heinous crime as the community had been at peace in the recent past.
Utazi however, urged the police to continue its manhunt for the remaining suspects and to ensure that no stone was left unturned at punishing the assailants in order to serve as deterrent to others.
Also speaking, the Traditional Prime Minister of the community, Dr. Obinna Ayogu, said they were dumfounded by the shooting and murder of the royal father whom he described as a peaceful man.
Ayogu commended the state Governor, Peter Mbah and the security agencies for living up to expectation through the positive steps they had taken meant at reassuring the people of the community and the local government at large of their safety.
Responding to them CP Uzuegwu said, “His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, said I should relocate to this local government and ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate act are apprehended in line with the state’s zero tolerance for crime. Immediately the news got to me, I dispatched my men from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Area Command, led by the Area Commander, to visit here and ensure that all those involved are arrested because no incident like this should happen without severe consequences.
“I want to disclose that so far, we have made arrest of eight prime suspects and we will continue to trail the remaining criminal masterminds of this murder. We must get to the root of this matter by unraveling all those behind the killing.
“I want to let you know that the Governor is not happy that a breach of this nature could occur, so he asked me to come here to ensure that all the criminals are fished out. I can assure you that these criminals will never go unpunished. So, all those responsible for this crime will be brought to book and punished according to the law.”
Further confirming the arrest, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe (DSP), said in a press statement that the dastardly act took place about 9pm on Sunday.
Ndukwe said the CP Uzuegwu had already directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a full-scale investigation that will lead to the prosecution of everyone found wanting.
Meanwhile, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, CSP Alex Akinlalu, who addressed newsmen at the Adani Police Division shortly after transferring the suspects to the SCID, assured the family of the late monarch and the community that the Governor had directed that justice should be dispensed within time.
Akinlalu said the security operatives would continue to go after unrepentant criminals wherever they were in their determined efforts to make the state safe and crime-free.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the CSO insisted that the rapid response of the security agents in the state, particularly in arresting the hoodlums, showed that they had already keyed into the Governor’s security project to make the entire state free of crimes for residents and citizens.
He added that no form of any criminality would be allowed in the state, assuring that every person involved in the killing of the traditional ruler would pay for it as information about the whereabouts of other suspects was being unraveled.
