Man Hires Assassins to Kill Friend Over Land Deal

.Anambra community leader shot dead

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka 

The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr. Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the State. 

This was as a community leader and traditional title holder in Nri Community, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Oba Maduka Arubaluezeama, was shot dead.

Madu had been declared missing some days back but was later discovered dead, with police investigation showing that his death was plotted by his friend in connivance with others, after duping him of money for nonexistent property.

A press release by the state Police Command’s Spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the revelation was after the arrest of the deceased’s friend, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwankwo, 32 years old, who allegedly confessed to plotting the murder and engaging two others to execute the act.

Ikenga said, “Following the report, on 18th August 2026 from the wife of the deceased that her husband had gone out on the evening of 17th August 2026 and had not returned home.

“Police operatives in collaboration with members of the local vigilante group and the deceased’s family, immediately commenced inquiries and a search operation to establish his whereabouts.

“In the evening of same day, however, the wife returned to the station in distress and reported that her husband had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.”

Ikenga said police operatives immediately mobilised to the scene, where the deceased was found lying lifeless with a deep axe cut to his head. 

He said in the course of the investigation, the Command arrested Mr. Nwankwo, a friend of the deceased, who confessed to his involvement in the planning and killing of Madu. 

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained money fraudulently from the deceased under the guise of assisting him to acquire a piece of land. In an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transaction and suppress the money obtained from the deceased, the suspect reportedly hired two other persons to murder him.

“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that the investigation be intensified to identify and arrest all persons involved in the conspiracy and murder. 

“The Command is determined to ensure that every person connected to the crime is brought to justice. The Command further assures the people of Anambra State that it will continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnership to prevent violent crimes, unravel criminal activities and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law,” the release stated.

In another murder case, a source told journalists that Arubaluezeama, who is popularly known by his title, Oba Muozuluaru, was assassinated on Tuesday night at a building site where he went to supervise work in his ongoing project.

The community is currently pervaded by tension, especially as it is suspected that his killing may have to do with the current tussle in the community over who becomes the next traditional ruler.

The community’s traditional stool has been vacant for about eight years now, after the death of its traditional ruler, Eze Obidiegwu Onyeso.

Several attempts to crown a new king had not yielded fruits as some indigenes have been engaged in bitter battle over who the next king will be.

The source said Arubaluezeama was murdered at about 7p.m. on Tuesday in Nise, wondering if his dispute with some other land owners around his property could be the problem or the kingship tussle, where the deceased had remained vocal.

According to the source, “That estate where Oba Muozuluaru is building his house is also under dispute because there are other multi-millionaires who also purchased their own plots of land there to build their own houses, but, most people are pointing their fingers at the controversy around the Nri traditional stool because a gang of suspected cultists had in the past attacked Chief Sunday Alike, and inflicted severe matchet cuts on him just as he was stepping out from Oba Muozuluaru’s house.

“Just last year too, the commander of Nri Central vigilante, Ogazi was also assassinated in the evening, and many people are suspecting the controversy around the traditional stool as the cause of the unfortunate happenings.

“Also, members of the Nri Nze-na-Ozor traditional society were said to have been attacked few years ago while they were holding their meeting at Agbadani Village Hall, and many fingers were pointed at the traditional stool controversy as the reason for the attack.”

It was gathered that the assassins confronted Arubaluezeama at his building site and ordered him to leave and as he made to enter his car, they shot at him, spilling his brains instantly.

It was gathered that the entire community has been thrown into mourning because of the popularity of the victim in the area and the circumstances surrounding his killing. The source said the community is calling for extensive investigation by police.

At the time of filing this report, the police spokesperson in Anambra, SP Ikenga, denied knowledge of the incident.