By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has reacted to the controversial death of an 80-year-old man, Mr. Paul Onwualu, who reportedly died after an alleged brutal assault by some Police officers said to have stormed his residence in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state over an ongoing Igweship tussle in the community.
The deceased, who was said to be one of the contenders in the disputed traditional stool of the community, allegedly died following severe beating by the police officers, who were reportedly attached to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.
Although the full circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated, sources within the community alleged that the operatives had stormed the old man’s residence alongside some persons believed to be opposed to his Igweship ambition.
According to one of the sources, the elderly man was allegedly beaten to a state of unconsciousness during an attempt to arrest him before he was bundled into a waiting vehicle and taken away.
“It was in the process of arresting him that he was beaten to coma and bundled into a waiting police vehicle. They were taking him to Ogidi Police Station when he collapsed on the way,” the source alleged.
The source further disclosed that the victim was rushed to the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, where medical personnel on duty reportedly confirmed him dead.
Giving her own account, wife of the deceased, Mrs. Anthonia Onwualu, while lamenting the incident, also accused the officers and those who accompanied them of violently attacking her husband before whisking him away.
According to her, the operatives allegedly invaded their residence located at Umusiome area of Nkpor on Thursday in company of some individuals she described as opponents of her husband’s aspiration to the throne.
She further alleged that because the gate to their compound was locked, the men scaled the perimeter fence before gaining access into the premises.
“They stormed our house, beat my husband to coma and took him away. I was later informed that he died on the way while they were taking him to Ogidi Police Station,” the widow lamented.
Reports have it that the lingering Igweship dispute in the Nkpor community is already a subject of litigation before a High Court sitting in Ogidi, with Suit No. HID/72/2026.
Reacting to the development in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the Command had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of the octogenarian.
According to the him, preliminary information available to the Command revealed that the officers allegedly involved in the arrest and the incident leading to the death of the deceased were not attached to the Anambra State Police Command.
The statement partly read: “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that it has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of the late Mr. Paul Onwualu in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“Preliminary information available to the Command reveals that the officers allegedly involved in the arrest before the sudden complication of the deceased’s health, which later led to his death, have been identified, but are not operatives attached to the Anambra State Police Command.”
The Command further assured Ndi Anambra and members of the public that the matter was being handled with the seriousness it deserves to ascertain the true facts surrounding the incident.
According to the statement, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, also appealed to residents to remain calm and allow investigations to run their full course, while reiterating the Command’s commitment to professionalism, transparency, and protection of lives and property.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no official statement yet from the FCID over the allegations surrounding the incident, even as reactions continue to trail the alleged brutal murder.
