Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Unidentified gunmen have beheaded a physically-challenged legal practitioner, Barr Emeka Achukwu, after collecting the sum of fifteen million naira (N15m) ransom from his family.
Hon. Achukwu represented the Nnewi South Constituency 2 in the Anambra State House of Assembly between 2003 to 2007.
It was gathered that the ex-lawmaker was abducted in his hometown at Ebe Village, Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, early this month, only for his beheaded and already decomposing body to be found dumped at the bank of Ulasi River in Ukpor, Tuesday.
A source said the ex-lawmaker, had earlier been kidnapped few months ago after he was accused of providing information to the military but got released by his abductors when it was confirmed that the allegations were false.
The source also said barely months after the victim’s release, he was kidnapped the second time two weeks ago, from which he never returned alive.
When contacted, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident and revealed that the victim was abducted on June 9, 2022, in his Ukpor hometown at about 10:15pm, while his decomposing body was found yesterday between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor communities.
He said said: “The victim was abducted at about 10:15pm in his house on June 9, 2022, and efforts were being made to rescue him before this unfortunate development. His body was found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor.”
“We are still not relenting on our investigation as we will ensure that the culprits will face the full wrath of the law.
Ukpor, the headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area has remained one of the most troubled parts of the state, since violent crime erupted in Anambra.
The council headquarters had on several occasions been attacked, same for the police division in the area. Sources said many eligible youths of the community have all fled for fear of being conscripted forcefully into criminal gangs.
