Another major arrest has been made by the Imo State Police
Command as a serving police officer, Corporal Jude Madu, and five others were on Thursday paraded in connection to the abduction and murder of a Catholic Priest,
Reverend Father Cyriacus Onunkwo, who was kidnapped and killed a week ago.
The Reverend Father who returned home from Lagos
where he served to make preparation for the burial of his late father was
abducted on the September 1, 2017, by four armed men who operated in a Toyota
Avalon car and whisked his to an unknown destination before he was found dead
the next day.
Other members of the notorious kidnap syndicate
arrested were Izuchukwu Okafor, 28, an indigene of Ukwukwa village in Anambra
State; Onyema Cyril, 29, from Okwelle in Onuimo council area of Imo State;
Emmanuel Ozuigbo, 29, an indigene of Mgbagbuowa in Ezeagu council area of Enugu
State; Victor Ikechukwu Iroakanzi, 33, from Umuagu in Obowo council area of Imo
State, who incidentally was the owner of the Toyota Avalon used for the crime,
and Ifechukwu Nwosu, 28, from Ihialla in Anambra State.
The kidnap gang which is believed to be led by the
32-year-old Police Corporal Madu who hails from Umuokisi, Amuzi, Ahiara, was
also allegedly responsible for the killing of a police officer at a new
generation bank in Owerri about three months ago.
Parading the gang members alongside other suspects,
the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, stated that “I am delighted
that the police command under my watch has made major breakthrough in criminal
investigation leading to the arrest of dare-devil suspected criminals, recover
exhibits and dismantling of the various criminal gangs/cells.”
The CP said: “However, I am pained by the fact that
some of the activities of these enemies of the society have brought sadness,
anxiety and general apprehension to Nigerians especially with the abduction and
murder of Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onunkwo on the September 1, at Banana junction in
Orlu, Imo State.”
Giving further details on the case of the murdered priest,
the commissioner described the incident as a sad moment for the police command
because of the unusual nature of the incident and the speed with which events
unfolded leading to the death of the priest, adding: “The Inspector General of
Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, is saddened by the development, and has ordered a
full investigation into the matter.”
According to him, in compliance with the IG’s
directive, I visited the Bishop of Orlu, Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, the native parish
of the deceased Reverend Father, St. Mary’s Parish, Osina and family of the
deceased at Osina. The visit was to express the condolences of the IG and the command
and also enable me build confidence in the investigative journey ahead. It paid
off!”
Ezike further added: “The investigating team using
forensic technology and backed up by hard work, commitment, passion and hunger
for success, arrested Corporal Madu who was in possession of the late Rev. Fr.
Onunkwo’s Infinix mobile phone.”
The commissioner of police also state that “the
investigation is continuing because the suspects have made other confessions
not related to the case under investigation, which require extensive probing.
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