Security sources told SaharaReporters that the two people arrested were involved in the burning of scores of houses in the troubled community since December 26, 2020, after the gruesome murder of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mbah.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two more suspects in connection with the protracted bloodletting and destruction of houses and other property worth millions of naira in Oruku community in the Nkanu East Local Government area of Enugu State.
Security sources told SaharaReporters that the two people arrested were involved in the burning of scores of houses in the troubled community since December 26, 2020, after the gruesome murder of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mbah.
The suspects who are currently helping police in their investigation are Ulochukwu Okenkwa and Okechukwu Adenyi.
According to one of the sources, Mr Okechukwu Adenyi was one of those mandated by the community to hand over weapons including about seven AK-47s to security agencies during a peace deal in the state. Others include Anayo Edeh and Onyema Edeh.
It was learnt that they all fled and refused to hand over the weapons. They later allegedly started using the weapons to terrorise the community.
Mr Adenyi was arrested recently, the source said.
"These people are killers. Okechukwu Adenyi is their leader now. The other leaders are older, so he runs the gun business on their behalf now," the source said.
A community leader who confirmed their arrest to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity regretted that the alleged crimes had destroyed their properties “since they’ve not been able to kill us like many others they have killed".
SaharaReporters reported on September 26 that an Enugu State Magistrate Court had remanded 46-year-old Inspector Daniel Dennis and one Mr Moses Nnamani for allegedly killing Igwe Emmanuel Mbah of Oruku community.
Earlier, it was reported that the police had released the trigger-happy police Inspector who shot and killed Mbah,
On September 11, 2023, it was reported that the younger brother of the late traditional ruler, Mr Ejike Mbah, had petitioned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to intervene and ensure the prosecution of the cops and their collaborators.
It had also been reported that Igwe Mbah was allegedly shot and killed on December 26, 2020, by Inspector Dennis attached to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), while he was addressing an annual general meeting of his community.
Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the case to October 18, 2023, pending a report on the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, the police in a letter with ref: CB:3514/FIB/FHQ/ABJ/TF/VOL.3/
It was titled "Forwarding Of Original Case File. Re: Criminal Conspiracy, Murder, Bribery And Corruption and numbered IBK/FIB/FHQ/ABJ/TF/163/2020.
The Inspector General of Police has been listed as the Complainant and the offences allegedly committed range from criminal conspiracy, murder, bribery and corruption.
"Suspects: Onyema Edeh, Emmanuel Nwobodo, Pastor Sunday Okenwa (surety at large), Chief Moses Nnamani and Friday Ngwu (at large).
"I refer to my letter Ref No. CB:5314/FIB/FHQ/ABJ/TF/VOL.3/
"Be also advised that the original case file from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID Enugu) has since been forwarded back to them. If there is a need for the file you can also liaise with them on that," it reads.
Meanwhile, efforts to get official confirmation from the police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls.