The Anambra State Police Command has launched a manhunt to apprehend the killers of Angus Okoye, 48, a community leader in Isuanocha, Awka North Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Awka.
Mohammed said the Dunukofia Police Division received a distress call on Sunday at about 9am that a middle aged man was found laying unconscious at the boundary between Isuaniocha and Nawgu village.
He said: “Following the report, Police patrol team attached to Dunukofia Division visited the scene in conjunction with local vigilante group.
“The victim was photographed and taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on arrival.”
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was allegedly kidnapped from his residence at Ifite Isu village, Isuaniocha in Awka North Local Government Area on December 15 at about 11:30pm.
He said the victim was shot on the head and neck by his assailants and his Honda Pilot car with registration number Lagos FST430DM was abandoned.
Mohammed said exhibits recovered at the scene included one expended cartridge and three empty shells from a pistol.
The the corpse has since been deposited at the Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital morgue for postmortem.
The Police spokesperson said increased patrols and surveillance were ongoing in the area to forestall possible breakdown of law and order in the community.
The News Agency of Nigeria is reporting that the incident may not be unconnected with the recent crisis in Isuanoacha community over town union leadership crisis.
The warring factions were, however, warned by the Police not to take laws into their hands.