ABAKALIKI, Nigeria – The Ebonyi State Police Command announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with the brutal murder of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Peter Nweke.
Nweke, a PDP Ward Chairman, was tortured to death by suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) loyalists on March 18, 2023, during the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections.
Nweke was killed in the Umuezeokaoha community, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, while working as the PDP’s agent for the gubernatorial polls in the area.
In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, revealed that one of the suspects, Leonard Kelechi Nwali, had confessed to the crime.
“During the interrogation of the suspects, the first suspect, Leonard Kelechi Nwali, a Labour Party House of Assembly aspirant, Ezza North Constituency, confessed to hiring the assailants who were meant to torture the late Peter Nweke,” the statement read.
However, he died in the process. According to him, the late Peter Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition, so he contacted one Akwasi of Umuezeoka, in Ezza North L.G.A who spearheaded the torture that eventually resulted in the death of Mr. Peter Nweke.”
The second suspect, Onyebuchi Chita, confessed to bringing in the killers from Nkomoro into Ogboji community, where Nweke was murdered. The third suspect, Aloke Obinna, admitted to providing his motorcycle to Onyebuchi Chita for escape following the incident. The fourth suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokpuku, conspired with Sampson Nweke, who identified Peter Nweke to the killers.
The Commissioner of Police for the Ebonyi State Police Command assured the public that all arrested suspects would be arraigned in court after the investigation concludes, and those still at large will be apprehended and brought to justice.
The Commissioner also emphasised the command’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and properties of Ebonyi State residents and warned criminals that there is no safe haven for them in the state.
