Police vows to re-arrest fleeing suspects over Anambra house member’s murder.

By Felix Udodirim ,Awka

The commissioner of police ,Anambra state Ikioye Orutegu has vow to re arrest the two fleeing suspects over killing of late justice Azuka.

Orutegu ,made this statement during press briefing in Anambra state police headquaters Amawbia today .

He said that the purpose of the Press briefing is to set the records straight on the two fleeing suspects involved in the murder of the Late Hon Justice Azuka, a Member Representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in the State House of Assembly of Anambra State and highlight some of the breakthroughs of the Command within the period under review.

He further said that the two fleeing suspects Ikemefuna and Chinedu are not the principal actors in the crime but drivers for the gang,, they were assisting RSS Awkuzu to arrest Akolisa who buy stolen vehicles,

However, Akolisa attempted to flee but was shot in the leg and taken into custody,

His words ” Let me reiterate the fact that this regrettable incident happened two days before I assumed Office on 10th February 2025 as the Commissioner of Police Anambra State.

“Upon receipt of the information on 18th of February 2025, this informed my briefing to Ndi Anambra and Nigerians as the Command under my watch shall ensure residents stay informed as the Security Situation evolves in the State.

“This sad development motivated me to go the extra mile on a discreet investigation to gather the facts surrounding the incident.

“The cause of my findings shows that the incident happened on the 8th of February, 2025 in Obosi. The two (2) suspects, Ikemefuna Ossai from Delta State and Chinedu Okoli from Imo State out of eleven (11) confessed suspects already paraded by the Command. Chinedu and Ikemefuna are not the principal suspects but the drivers of the notorious gang. They were assisting the Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Respond Squad ( RSS) Akwuzu to arrest one Tochukwu Akolisa from Anambra State, whom according to the suspect mentioned the Tochukwu Akolisa as one of the receivers/buyers of their victim’s vehicles/belongings.

“During the onslaught operation by the Operatives, to arrest Tochukwu (the receiver) took to his heels Immediately he sighted the Police Operatives in company with Ikemefuna and Chinedu. Regrettably, I was informed that the two suspects Ikemfeuna and Chinedu were the ones driving the car when the operatives alighted the vehicle, shot at the receiver/buyer on his leg and arrested him. The two other suspects used the opportunity to escape from the scene with the vehicle. I was also briefed that during a hot chase by the Police Operatives, the suspect abandoned the car and escaped into a nearby bush. The area was cordoned off and all efforts to apprehend the fugitives proved abortive.

“As the substantive Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, I consider it a priority to address this situation, re-arrest the suspects, and implement necessary measures to prevent such incidents or related ones from happening again.

” I have briefed the Force headquarters on the situation on the ground and the actions taken, which include activating operational plans to re-arrest the suspects at large and initiating disciplinary proceedings against police personnel involved due to operational lapses.

However, Given the above the Command is more motivated to stabilize the security situation in the State and some of the highlights of the achievement of the Command in the period under review State as follows:

“On 18th February 2025, at approximately 8:00 PM, police officers on patrol around Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, intercepted and arrested one Orji Chigozie ‘M’. Upon a search, operatives recovered a locally fabricated Beretta pistol concealed inside a bag.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect may be involved in criminal activities within the area. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for further investigation and necessary legal action.

“Also, following an intensive manhunt of coordinated operation by the Police Operatives in the early hours of 19/2/2025 rescued an abducted victim in Ihiala. The victim was reported to have been abducted by suspected armed men on 18/2/2025 by 11:30pm along ilo Akpukwu road Nkwelle Ezunaka.

” Early before the rescue of the victim, the Police Operatives attached to the 3-3 division during a hot chase made the armed men forcibly abandon the vehicle one ash Toyota Corolla with reg nos: AND 550 JD suspected to have been snatched from an unsuspecting member of the public used for the abduction of the rescued victim. The vehicle was also recovered and operations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

“Lastly, my assurances on behalf of other security agencies as the Police, the lead agency in internal security is that we will continue to synergize with the military, other security forces and the vigilantes to improve our operational capacity, security dominance and tactics aimed at depriving these criminals the space they enjoy to perpetrate evil in the State.