The Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of one suspect and member of the criminal gang, alleged to have attacked and murdered one Nelson Sylvester Nnacheta, identified as the Councillor representing Eha-Ulo Ehalumona Council Ward.
The police in a statement issued by the Command's spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspect and his gang allegedly carried the crime on July 16, 2023 at about 11.30pm, at Umualoji Village in Ehalumona community.
Ndukwe stated that the Commissioner of Police ordered discreet investigation and manhunt of the assailants.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Mr Nelson Sylvester, a councillor representing the Eha-Ulo ward in the Nsukka Local Government Area of the Enugu Legislative Council was killed by unknown gunmen.
Popularly known as Ofunwa, he was killed on Sunday night at his residence in Eha-Alumonah community, a leader in the community, Celestine Odoagu, told SaharaReporters on Monday morning in a telephone conversation.
Odoagu also informed SaharaReporters that the remains of Sylvester had been deposited in the morgue while police had been properly briefed.
According to him, the assailants stormed the lawmaker’s house and started raining bullets on him.
“We cannot say who was behind the murder,” he said.
During the attack on the councillor, he ran into a neighbouring compound with bullet wounds before he collapsed there. Efforts to take him to the hospital immediately failed as the gunmen who were believed to still be around sent residents into hiding.
"We suspect the attack to be assassination but it left the police to disprove our suspicions. It is heartbreaking; it is too hard for us to swallow. We are in deep agony,” he said.