The Anambra State Police Command has arrested one suspect in connection with the murder of an operator of a beer parlour (name withheld) located opposite a popular Pizza joint near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that there was panic in the area when some yet-to-be-identified gunmen shot the bar owner as he was driving to his place of business.
The reason for the attack cannot be immediately ascertained, but it was gathered that the incident occurred late on Sunday, when the victim who was driving in his vehicle was double-crossed by the assailants, who fired gunshots at him.
One of the eyewitnesses near the scene, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the condition of anonymity, said, “There was pandemonium near the Oko poly when a group of armed hoodlums stormed from nowhere, double-crossed the owner of the popular beer parlour, shot him twice on the chest and fled, abandoning his dead body inside the vehicle.
“After the hoodlums fled, people surrounded the vehicle, including the brother of the deceased who observed the lifeless body in a pool of his blood. It was the brother who drove the body to the police station.”
A video currently circulating online also showed when the crowd, including the victim’s brother, surrounded the victim’s car shortly after, with the brother eventually driving his body to the police station.
When contacted on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, saying it was a cult-related killing.
Ikenga disclosed that one suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident, while interrogation and investigations were still currently ongoing.
He said, “It was a cult-related killing and following the swift response of the police operatives led by the DPO, one suspect was arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.
“Meanwhile, the body of the victim has been recovered and deposited in the morgue. The operatives also recovered the victim’s vehicle at the scene.
“Further development shall be communicated, please.”
Meanwhile, Ikenga said residents have agreed with the police and security agencies that the hoodlums terrorising the state are unrepentant criminals who have refused to change their ways and not the so-called unknown gunmen.
He said given the above, Ndi Anambra have shown more resolve and commitment by working with the police and other security agencies to fish out the bad eggs and deny the criminals the space to wreak more havoc in the state
He said, “Meanwhile, the police have improved surveillance and patrols to deter crime and maintain order.
“In the event of a request for any security service, please call the Command Control Room Number on 07039194332 or PPRO on 08039334002 for a prompt response. The ‘npf rescue me app’ is also available for free download on both Android and iOS devices for Android and iPhone users respectively.”
