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Leaders of Umuka Okposi in Ohaozara LGA accuse DSS operative of harassment, shielding alleged murder suspect
From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
The leadership of Umuka Okposi community, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has accused one of its sons, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Elechi Agwu Ogudu, currently serving in Calabar, Cross River State, of shielding an alleged murder suspect, Chichebem Okorie Ogudu, his cousin, from prosecution.
The village head of Umuka Okposi, Chief Irem Okorie, said the problem started on April 28, 2025, when one woman, identified simply as Mrs. Agbafor, allegedly attempted to abduct a child during a funeral ceremony in the area. According to him, he immediately announced with a public address system that the woman should not be beaten by anyone, rather, she should be handed over to police for investigation.
Chief Irem disclosed that after he asked the chairman of his cabinet to take the woman to the police station at Court Area, Okposi, suddenly, a young man, Chichebem, hurriedly volunteered for the assignment. He picked the woman with his motorcycle and left the place. But, shockingly, the body of the woman was found at the motor park in Eke Market Square, in the neighbouring village, the following morning.
The community leader said that he, alongside other stakeholders, rushed and reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obiozara.
“The police immediately visited the scene and took the body and deposited it in a mortuary. Chichebem was equally taken to the police station for questioning before the case was transferred to the CID section of police headquarters in Abakaliki, the capital of the state, where the man mentioned Maduabuchi John and Chiadi Kingsley Eze as his suspected accomplices,” he stated.
He lamented that while they were still contemplating how to unravel the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, their DSS son, Elechi Agwu, allegedly used his position and facilitated the release of his cousin, the principal suspect. This was as the other two suspects were arraigned in court in Abakaliki a few days later.
Chief Irem further alleged that the key suspect’s elder brother, Amobi Ogudu, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, and his cousin, Elechi Agwu, did not only shield the principal suspect from prosecution, but have kept dragging the village, particularly its leadership, to the DSS office in Abakaliki for providing security operatives with the prime suspect’s name.
The village leadership accused their two sons of using their privileged positions and a series of petitions to stop them from finding out the cause of the woman’s death and why the other two persons should serve as scapegoats.
He further said: “On one of the days that we were invited at the DSS office in Abakaliki, one of us wanted to know why the matter was transferred from police to the DSS but he was not answered by the officers and that was how the two men have been dragging us from pillar to post over the issue.”
Also, the distraught father of one of the suspects, Chiadikobi Eze, insisted that his son was implicated by the supposed prime suspect, Chichebem. He bemoaned that the young man was currently roaming freely in the village while his innocent son languished in prison.
A petition by Igwenyi & Igwenyi law firm on behalf of the community, dated June 12, 2025, asked the commissioner of police to direct the immediate arrest and charging of Chichebem for murder of the lady whose blood, was “crying to the high heavens.”
Our correspondent spoke with the DSS operative, Elechi, who denied influencing the release of his cousin. According to him, the police investigated the matter and found Chichebem innocent of the incident, hence he was released after one month in detention.
Elechi alleged that the deceased woman was actually pulled down from Chichebem’s motorcycle on his way to the police station by the persons currently facing trial and others at large.
“The same people now accusing me of influencing the matter had earlier accused me of keeping mute over the incarceration of Chichebem in police custody.
“As I am talking now, I have not visited Abakaliki since the last three months to throw weight behind anyone; rather, the police men were able to find the truth after their investigation,” Elechi stated.
He described the allegations as a mere campaign of calumny against him and denied taking the case to the DSS office in Abakaliki or any other place.
He said: “If my family had written a petition against some persons, the people should remember that I am neither the eldest nor the family head.”
He further said that Chichebem’s release was endorsed by the commissioner of police, Ebonyi State Command.
