Native Doctor Who Participated in Killing of Anambra Lawmaker Arrested

*’Kidnappers took N20m ransom, yet killed Okoye’

A native doctor, Chief Chukwujekwu Onuorah a.k.a Egbe-Ejiejeogu, who participated in the killing and beheading of Anambra lawmaker, Hon Okechukwu Okoye, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, has been arrested.

A human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which revealed this yesterday said the native doctor was arrested in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Intersociety, in a press statement in Awka, said the native doctor was a younger brother to a famous cultural dancer and founder of Egedege cultural group, Queen Theresa Onuorah.

The statement, which was signed by the group’s BoT Chairman, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, said the native doctor had earlier escaped with bullet wounds, when security agent raided his home in Unubi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, but was tracked down to Awka, where he was being treated in a private clinic.

“The arrested kingpin is the blood brother of revered Queen and Founder of the Famous Egedege Cultural Dance, the 80 years old Queen Theresa Onuorah of Unubi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“Chukwujekwu Onuorah is believed to be in his 70s. His arrest was in connection with the abduction, disappearance, beheading and decapitation of Hon Okechukwu Okoye, an Isuofia Aguata born Anambra State Assembly lawmaker, who was abducted on 15th May 2022,” the statement stated.

Giving account of how he was arrested, Intersociety said, “He was technologically trailed after he was found to have used the beheaded lawmaker’s sim-card to make criminal calls. Even after exhausting the sim-card ‘credit’; he completed the calls with his own cell phone.

“The slayers of the kidnapped/beheaded lawmaker were earlier traced to Unubi, where ransom running into millions of naira (some say, N20m) was physically delivered. The slayers collected the ransom and still went ahead to slay and decapitate the lawmaker.

“The cell phone of the slain lawmaker was put in monitoring devices during which it was found to have been used by Egbe-ejiejeogu to make several criminal calls days after he was beheaded.

“Between early hours of 28th (last Friday) and 29th (last Saturday) May 2022, the house of the arrested kingpin was raided after he was tracked to be at home. He made a magical escape after several gunshots were fired at him and he escaped by jumping into a ditch. After recovering several incriminating items including guns and bullets and his portrait, the operatives trapped him by leaving behind one of his cell phones.

“Between late night of 30th May and early hours of 31st May 2022, the cell phone was tracked to a private hospital in Awka forcing the operatives of the DSS to storm the clinic where he was arrested alive in bandage while trying to board a tricycle (KEKE),” the group said.

Below is the full statement.

An Unubi High Chief and malevolent herbalist, Chief Chukwujekwu Onuorah, alias “Egbe-Ejiejeogu” has been arrested by the operatives of Anambra State DSS Directorate. His arrest is one of the high profile and intelligence and technology powered and fastest arrests in recent times in connection with violent crimes. The arrested kingpin is the blood brother of revered Queen and Founder of the Famous Egedege Cultural Dance, the 80 years old Queen Theresa Onuorah of Unubi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The arrested anti humanity and property violent crimes kingpin, Chief Chukwujekwu Onuorah is believed to be in his 70s and third in rank by birth after Theresa and Late Boniface (first son). His arrest was in connection with the abduction, disappearance, beheading and decapitation of Hon Okechukwu Okoye, an Isuofia Aguata born Anambra State Assembly lawmaker who was abducted on 15th May 2022.

How EGBE-EJIEJEOGU Was Trailed, Tracked And Arrested

It should be recalled that Intersociety had in its statement of 26th May 2022 (Killing of Northern Muslim Mother and her Children in Anambra…), independently disclosed the arrest of “some soft targets” (an Okada rider and an automobile mechanic) over the dastardly act and named Unubi as the location of the scene of the heinous crime(s). Intersociety which has been following the development behind the scene through its undercover agents also disclosed in its statement the arrest of the leader (“Omereora” from Nneni) of the street criminal gang whose members went on killing spree two days later, targeting defenseless civilians and their properties including the slain Northern Muslim mother and her children. In the case of EGBE-EJIEJEOGU, he was technologically trailed after he was found to have used the beheaded lawmaker’s sim-card to make criminal calls. Even after exhausting the sim-card ‘credit’; he completed the calls with his own cell phone.

The slayers of the kidnapped/beheaded lawmaker were earlier traced to Unubi where ransom running into millions of naira (some say, N20m) was physically delivered. The slayers collected the ransom and still went ahead to slay and decapitate the lawmaker. The cell phone of the slain lawmaker was put in monitoring devices during which it was found to have been used by EGBE-EJIEJEOGU to make several criminal calls days after he was beheaded. It was at this juncture that one of the ‘soft targets’ was arrested in Igboukwu leading to third party identification and location of the arrested kingpin. Between early hours of 28th (last Friday) and 29th (last Saturday) May 2022, the house of the arrested kingpin was raided after he was tracked to be at home. He made a magical escape after several gunshots were fired at him and he escaped by jumping into a ditch. After recovering several incriminating items including guns and bullets and his portrait, the operatives trapped him by leaving behind one of his cell phones. Between late night of 30th May and early hours of 31st May 2022, the cell phone was tracked to a private hospital in Awka forcing the operatives of the DSS to storm the clinic where he was arrested alive in bandage while trying to board a tricycle (KEKE). The two ‘soft targets’ earlier arrested were freed same yesterday being 31st May 2022. Bravo Director Enoch Pawa!

Burning Of His House And Properties Strongly Condemned

The operatives had gone back to the arrested kingpin’s ancestral home and dragged out an aged woman presumed to be his mother. His wife was said to have gone for “Omugwo” of her daughter who recently took to bed at Ekwulobia. The operatives had in anger after the arrested kingpin’s escape set ablaze the house (a one storey building and a bungalow) and their fixtures and chattels and burned same to ashes. The burning and property destruction are strongly condemned. In criminal investigation of such magnitude, burning of properties is the crudest form of such criminal enquiry and act of unprofessionalism. This is more so when some of the burnt properties or items could have aided the criminal investigation. It also amounts to class criminalization and transfer of criminal liability to others not involved in such heinous crime(s) including the presumed aged mother, wife and children of the arrested kingpin who have been rendered homeless for criminal activities of another. The burning down of the Family house (Obi) also stigmatizes and degrades the person and character of the Famous Egedege Queen and other innocent members of the Family and circumstantially designates them as “Criminal Family”.

When our correspondent contacted the Anambra State Police command, the spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said he could not confirm the arrest immediately as he had not been briefed, but said the state police command was carrying out several operations simultaneously in the state.

“I have not been briefed but I know there is an operation going on now. I will get back to you with full details as soon as I can,” Ikenga said.