Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Peter Nweke, the Peoples Democratic Party’s ward chairman in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
The suspects were, identified as Kelechi Nwali, Onyebuchi Chita, Aloke Obinna, and Ifeanyi Nwokpuku.
They were arrested on March 28 by men of the Ebonyi State Police Command.
Nweke was murdered during the March 18 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.
Police Spokesperson in Ebonyi, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, while parading the suspects at a press conference in Abakaliki on Friday explained that 21 persons have also been declared wanted in connection with the crime.
“Sequel to the dastardly act, the commissioner of police, CP Faleye S. Olaleye, tasked all police officers in the command to fish out all those responsible for the killing,” the police spokesperson said.
“Consequently, on March 28, four suspects were arrested in connection with the death of Mr Peter Nweke.
“During the interrogation of the suspects, the first suspect, one Kelechi Nwali, male, a Labour Party house of assembly candidate, Ezza north constituency, confessed to hiring the assailants who were meant to torture the victim, however, he died in the process.
“According to Nwali, the late Peter Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition, so he contacted one Akwasi, a male, of Nnachi Umuezeoka in Ezza north, who spear-headed the torture that eventually resulted in the death of Mr Nweke.
“The second suspect, Onyebuchi Chita of Nkomoro community, confessed to having brought in the killers from Nkomoro into the Ogboji community where Peter Nweke was killed.
“The third suspect, Aloke Obinna of Ogboji community, confessed to having given his motorcycle to one Onyebuchi Chita for escape after the incident.
“While Ifeanyi Nwokpuku, fourth suspect of Ogboji community, all in Ezza north, conspired with one Sampson Nweke, male, who pointed Peter Nweke out to the killers.”
Onovwakpoyeya added that the suspects would be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation.
