Police arrest five over Anambra land agent’s murder

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested five suspects in connection with the alleged murder of a former chairman and land agent of Ikem Nando Community in Anambra State, Emmanuel Nwanneniya, in what investigators described as a killing linked to a protracted dispute over community land.

The arrests followed weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated operations by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) Special Tactical Squad (STS), acting on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Monday that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly procured and used a restricted veterinary sedative, identified as S.P.L. Ketamine Hydrochloride 500mg/10ml, during the commission of the crime.

According to the police, investigations uncovered that the murder stemmed from a lingering disagreement over proceeds realised from the sale of community land in Ikem Nando.

The Force explained that after the sale of the land, one of the three clans in the community reportedly received about N39 million as its share. While the majority of community members allegedly resolved that the money should be invested in the construction of a community hall and other developmental projects, a faction reportedly opposed the decision, resulting in persistent disagreements and tension within the community.

Police said the dispute subsequently degenerated into threats and intimidation directed at community leaders who supported the proposed development projects. Some of the suspects, according to investigators, had earlier been invited for questioning following reports of kidnapping threats and other acts of intimidation before the situation escalated.

The statement further revealed that the deceased was allegedly lured under the pretext of negotiating the purchase of a large expanse of land. Believing he was meeting genuine buyers, Nwanneniya reportedly honoured the invitation, where he was allegedly ambushed by the suspects.

Investigators alleged that the suspects held him at gunpoint, restrained him and injected him multiple times with the restricted sedative before forcing him to surrender access to his mobile phone and banking applications.

Police said the victim’s wife provided investigators with a crucial lead after informing detectives that her husband had left home to inspect land with prospective buyers shortly before he was declared missing.

The information, according to the Force, enabled detectives to reconstruct the victim’s last movements, leading to the arrest of the five suspects after weeks of painstaking investigation.

The police said investigations are still ongoing to unravel the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and identify other persons who may have been involved in the murder.

The Inspector-General of Police assured Nigerians that the Force remains committed to ensuring justice in the case and warned individuals involved in violent land disputes and other criminal activities that they would be tracked down and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The police urged members of the public to continue to support law enforcement agencies by providing credible and timely information capable of preventing crimes and aiding ongoing investigations.