How Police Officer Allegedly Arranged With Armed Thugs To Murder Businessman Inside Shop 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the deceased, Charles Chimezie Nwachukwu, was brutally beaten to death by the suspected assassins at his shop, known as Odiuko Kitchen, located at Ijagemo Road in Ijagemo community.

Police operatives from the Isheri Oshun Division have so far arrested five suspects in connection with the alleged murder while others were said to be at large.

The suspects included, Police Corporal, Samshedeen Ajakaye, Adepeju Matthew, Adewale Tajudeen, a lady identified as Iya Lekan and an unidentified suspect.

The murder of the late Nwachukwu has thrown the community into crisis and the Igbo community indicted the Baale of Ijagemo Awori land, High Chief Olateju Jimoh-Balogun, for the alleged murder.

Some members of the Igbo community comprising his club members besieged the residence of the deceased protesting the alleged murder suspected to be predetermined by some indigenes over land matter.

It took the intervention of the traditional leader of Ndigbo in Ijegun and Ijedodo, Eze Chika Nwokedi, to prevent the protest from escalating into full blown violence as he calmed down the situation and the angry mob listened to him.

The embittered widow, Mrs. Blessing Nwachukwu, has appealed for justice over the killing of her husband, alleging that he was murdered by a group of individuals, including a Police officer, over a land dispute.

She explained that her late husband,  Charles, had a local shop in the area, where the suspected assassins led by the Police officer, Ajakaye and others beat him to death.

Mrs Nwachukwu revealed that the group, which eventually murdered her husband, had been threatening him and his family.

She stated that when the attackers had beaten her husband and he was on the ground, she ran to the Baale, Chief Olateju Jimoh-Balogun. She pleaded for help so that her husband can be rushed to the hospital, but he refused and ordered her to go and lock up the shop while her husband was lying critically.

She alleged that the attackers were motivated by a desire to take over their land and that they had been terrorising the area, selling drugs, and intimidating residents.

Mrs Nwachukwu claimed that her husband had bought the land from a man who had been living there for over 20 years, but that he had seized the receipt and refused to return it, leaving them vulnerable to the attackers.

A resident who witnessed what happened, Mr. Peter Agu, said that an altercation took place across the road  opposite the shop of the deceased during which one unidentified person was seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital. While efforts were being made to restore calm, a man claiming to be a Police officer, locally identified as “Olopa”, allegedly arrived at the scene. He began assaulting individuals present, which escalated leading to an unrest within the area.

In an attempt to maintain peace, the late Charles intervened and requested that all forms of violence be taken away from his premises. During the ensuing commotion, he was reportedly pushed. He fell and sustained a severe head injury leading to his death.

He was initially taken to the hospital for medical attention but was later confirmed dead due to the the time wasted before he got medical attention.

An Igbo community leader, Eze Chika Nwokedi, disclosed that he was alerted about the incident shortly after it occurred, with reports that some Igbo youths were mobilising for a riot. He said he immediately contacted key community figures, including local leaders and chiefs, urging them to maintain peace and avoid any actions that could lead to destruction of properties or escalation of violence.

According to him, members of the Igbo Buru Otu Association visited the house of the late Charles, where they met a crowd of concerned residents. The Igbo leader called for calm, emphasising that the Police had already taken control of the situation. Authorities reportedly evacuated the victim’s body to the mortuary and have commenced an investigation into the murder.

Eze Nwokedi stressed that the matter should be left in the hands of law enforcement, warning that any form of unrest could result in innocent individuals being arrested or implicated.

He stated that he has contacted the Police high authorities including the Commissioner of Police,  Area Commander of Area M Command,Idimu, the DPO Isheri Oshun Division and they have taken prompt action and some suspects have been arrested including the Police officer. He was also said to have contacted the Baale to ascertain the allegations by the widow including the issue of land grabbing and threats but he was not around when he visited him at his house.

There has been reactions over the ugly incident. Dr Anthony Nwaeze Onyiyechukwu-Kachukwu, Obi Ndigbo of IJagemo, described the incident as unfortunate and stated that there has been reoccurrence of intimidation and poor treatment meted out to Igbos living in the IJagemo axis in recent years.

Obi Ndigbo also revealed that the son of the deceased, who then protested against the incident, was also attacked by a group of about 15 individuals, severely beaten and he is currently hospitalised over internal bleeding.

He further alleged that it was part of ongoing harassment against Igbo residents in the area by individuals claiming to be “omo onile” (landowners), who insist that non-indigenes have no rights there. He stated that threats have been made against the Igbo community, warning of further violence if they speak out.

He called on the government and relevant authorities to intervene, ensure justice for the victims, and protect the rights and safety of Igbo residents in the area..

The President and Vice President of the community of the deceased, Mr. Innocent Ogoke and Emmanuel Ejiogu, have called on the Nigeria Police to carry out full investigation of the murder and bring the perpetrators to book.

When P.M.EXPRESS reporter visited the Police at Isheri Oshun Division, the DPO was said to have gone on routine monitoring of the area but a source at the station said that the suspects have been transferred to the SCID Panti, Yaba, for further investigation over the alleged murder.