The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a man linked to the murder of a 42-year-old man identified as Shedrack Chukwem.
The police gave the name of the suspect as Robinson Uche, aged 29, who led his gang to commit the crime.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in the statement issued on Wednesday.
Iringe-Koko said the suspect, along with four others, was sent by a monarch identified as Elijah Okere to bring the deceased to his palace.
She added that stiff resistance to arrest the victims was put up, prompting the gang to open fire, leading to Chukwem’s death.
It partly reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in the investigation of a case of conspiracy and murder involving one Shedrack Ogadinma Chukwem (Male, 42 years), an indigene of Umuemeshie Community, Chokota, in Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Following sustained and unrelenting investigative efforts by operatives of the Command, attached to Anti-Cultism Unit, Emuohia Annex, one Robinson Uche (Male, 29 years), a native of Umuechem in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, was tracked and arrested at about 7:30 a.m. on 6th March 2026. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to actively participating in the killing of the deceased.
“According to his statement, the incident occurred on 17th December 2025 when he and four others—identified as Prince (also known as “Onyia-Army”), surname unknown; Achor (surname unknown); Gift Okere, also known as “Nnaye”; and another individual whose name he could not provide were allegedly hired by one Chief Elijah Okere to bring the deceased to his palace.
“The suspect further stated that upon arriving at the location where the deceased was attending a family meeting, their attempt to arrest him became unsuccessful. He (the prime suspect) further alleged that in the course of the encounter, the group shot the deceased, resulting in his death. According to the suspect, the group subsequently transported the body to a bush located at Ekerre-Ugbor, where it was hurriedly buried in a shallow grave.”
The state Police image maker said following the confession, the suspect led Police operatives to the location where the body was buried.
“The remains of the deceased were successfully recovered from the shallow grave and later deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
“Efforts have been intensified by the Police to apprehend the other suspects who are currently at large,” she stated.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assures members of the public that the command remains committed to ensuring justice in this matter, vowing to pursue all individuals connected with the crime.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” the Command’s spokesperson said.
Asked if the monarch who allegedly hired the miscreants to bring the deceased to his palace has been arrested, she responded tersely, “Not yet, but efforts are on to arrest him.”
On Monday, the Oyo State Police command arrested one Giwa Sodiq in connection with a criminal altercation that led to the death of Kehinde, also known as “Ogo Ojigbo.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that a preliminary investigation revealed that community authorities reported to the Iyana-Offa Division that, while sleeping, they were alerted by community security guards to a confrontation involving a group of youths within the community.
Credit: punchng.com
