A police source at Awkuzu command, who craved anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the suspect, identified as “Awu Igbeke” (a.k.a Coach), a native of Nsugbe in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State had been on the run since October 2023, when he allegedly cut off three fingers of his victim identified as Chinedu Chima with a machete.
As a result, the police command had declared “Awu Igbeke” wanted and launched a manhunt for him since October 2023 until he was apprehended two weeks ago when he was tracked down and is currently cooling off at the State Criminal Investigations Department, CID Annex.
The police source said, “Chima, a native of Ogboji in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, but resident in Nsugbe in Anambra State, had, on a fateful day, approached ‘Awu Igbeke’ at his sawmill in Nsugbe and demanded the payment of his N30,000 he owed him.
“But rather than settle the debt, ‘Awu Igbeke’ took Chima, with the help of his cohorts, into a tick forest in Nsugbe, attacked him with the machete, and robbed him of his telephone and other personal effects.
“As if that was not enough, the suspect picked up a machete and aimed at Chima’s head, but he covered his head with his two hands to protect his head, and the machete landed in his hands, cutting off three fingers from his right hand, while the left hand was severed.
“To buttress the level of his anger, the suspect collected the cut-off fingers, pocketed them, and fled to Obigbo in Rivers State.
“The police later declared him wanted and launched a manhunt for him since October, last year till about two weeks ago when he was tracked down and is currently cooling off at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Annex, formerly the state headquarters of the RRS, Awkuzu.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Abakaliki Lawyers Association, an umbrella body of lawyers from Abakaliki in Anambra State, Victor Alo, described the action of ‘Awu Igbeke’ as wicked, barbaric, and inhuman, adding that the association would liaise with the immediate members of Chima’s family and follow the case to its logical conclusion with a view to ensuring that justice is done in the case.
Alo, however, commended the state police command for their efforts in tracking the fleeing suspect three months after the incident and called for an urgent arrest of his remaining accomplices.
However, when contacted, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls and inquiries to his telephone to confirm the development.
