In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement authorities have successfully apprehended a suspected serial murderer and cultist in Oghara, with the recovery of firearms and a stolen luxury vehicle.
The suspect’s arrest comes after a series of gruesome murders rocked the community, leaving residents in fear and mourning.
The unfolding events follow the tragic killing of Destiny Idi, a 27-year-old resident of Ovade Community on Ovie Road. Acting swiftly, Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass instructed DPO Oghara CSP Olasunkanmi Musiliu to uncover the truth behind the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
A relentless effort was launched, as DPO Musiliu led his team, supported by the division’s Anti-Crime Patrol Unit, to delve into the incident.
With an eyewitness account as a starting point, the investigative team honed in on the suspected mastermind of the crime.
On the same day, at approximately 1335hrs, the team executed a targeted operation at an undisclosed hotel in Oghara, culminating in the arrest of Charles Debi-Abate, a 39-year-old member of the Aro Bagger confraternity and a native of Oghara.
Preliminary findings uncovered a chilling web of criminal activities involving the suspect.
It was revealed that Debi-Abate was implicated in the murder of Onyekachi Chibuzor, known as “ODOGWU,” aged 42, on the 28th of July, 2023.
The suspect’s history was linked to multiple cult-related assaults targeting perceived rivals within the Oghara community.
Although the suspect denied direct involvement in the murder of Solomon Idi, he pointed authorities towards two other individuals, Onyeka and Paul, as the culprits responsible for the heinous crime.
In a follow-up operation on the 9th of August, 2023, law enforcement officers proceeded to the locations associated with Onyeka and Paul. Unfortunately, both were absent.
However, a thorough search of their premises yielded a startling discovery – two English pump-action shotguns, twenty live cartridges, and a stolen GLK Benz SUV bearing the registration number RBC-995-DG.
Currently, the arrested suspects are in custody, and the recovered evidence is secured as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are pursuing an intense manhunt for Onyeka and Paul, aiming to bring them to justice for their alleged roles in the crimes.
The swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement demonstrate a commitment to maintaining public safety and instilling confidence within the community.
As the investigation progresses, the Oghara community and the nation at large await further developments in this high-stakes case.