By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Anambra State Police Command, Wednesday, paraded a 44 year old Chief Priest, Mr Anthony Obanye and six others for allegedly assaulting a widow from Anambra East Local Government Area.
A viral video had shown a lady striped nude and abused by some persons from her community for allegedly killing her husband whose lifeless body was also captured.
The State Police Commissioner, Echeng Echeng, who paraded the suspects at the State Police headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Amabiwa, Awk South LGA, named other suspects to include Mr Udalor Egwuatu Nnalue, 46, Mr Godwin Ezechukwu, 42, Nonso Ezechukwu, 20, Philomena Onyekwe, 27, and Chineyere Mmachi, 32.
According to Echeng, investigation revealed that the deceased, Mr Udorji Egwatu, had been sick for some time when one of the suspects (his bother), Mr Udalor took him to Anthony a native doctor.
"Anthony confessed to have taken the decease on some spiritual cleansing and administered him some herds before he died. It was Anthony who allegedly told the family of the deceased that the cause of his death was as a result of the wife infidelity.
"We also to want use opportunity to advise the members of the public to stop sharing the video. This will help to protect the dignity of the woman. I wish to assure you that no stone shall be left unturned in the going investigation. Justice shall be served," he stated.
The police commissioner further revealed that the command also arrested some suspected cult gangs who killed two police officers at Unizik junction, Awka on 14th December, 2021, and massacre about 25 persons at a funeral party in Ebenebe, Awka North LGA on 26th February, 2022.
"On Tuesday 15th March, 2022 information was received that the same cult group had launched an attack on Unizik vigilante group at miracle junction, ifite, Awka. Police Operatives were mobilized to lay ambush for the gang as they fled from the scene. The effort pays off as the Police succeeded in demobilizing the gang and recovering a cache of weapons which included the two AK-47 rifles earlier stolen from the two Policemen murdered on 14th December, 2021.
"The following are the weapons and other items recovered; two Ak47, three pump actions guns, three locally made beretta pistols, one locally made Chief recover pistol, Nine Ak-47 magazine, two battle axes, assorted ammunition for the firearms above and the Mercedes Benz V-Booth reg. No Lagos HC 661 AAA with which the gang was operating was also recovered
"The leader of the gang, one Uchenna Nwobu a.k.a Anali was killed while the other gang member was arrested. Investigation is ongoing aimed at tracking down other members of the gang and establishing the rightful owner of the recovered car.
"Furthermore, the Command Operatives on stop and search on 23/2/2022 along Onitsha Enugu expressway arrested one Awoke Friday and Ezuma Chukwuemeka. While trafficking a large quantity of 250mg of Tramadol and other prohibited drugs. The suspects where conveying to drugs in a Toyota Hiace bus to Ebonyi State. Meanwhile the case has been transferred to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). All the suspects in Police custody shall be charge to court at the end of investigation," he maintained.