The Ebonyi State Police Command has apprehended three suspects in connection with the brutal killing of a youth leader, Udu Nnachi Uzor, in the Ekoli Edda community, located in Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest comes in the wake of a violent crisis that engulfed the community in July, resulting in multiple casualties and the destruction of valuable property belonging to residents.
According to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, the suspects identified as Amarachi Ude, Idika Ama Okoro, and Sunday Ama Olughu were intercepted while attempting to flee to neighboring Abia State.
They were reportedly on board vehicles when operatives of the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit apprehended them.
“Following the Ekoli Edda crisis, which led to the murder of one Udu Nnachi on 09/07/2025, painstaking investigation by operatives of the command attached to SWAT led to the arrest of the following persons: Amarachi Ude, Idika Ama Okoro, and Sunday Ama Olughu.
The suspects will be arraigned upon conclusion of investigation,” Uche-Anya stated during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abakaliki on Wednesday.
The Ekoli Edda community had been thrown into turmoil in the penultimate month when clashes broke out, claiming several lives and leaving property worth millions destroyed.
The late youth leader, Udu Nnachi Uzor, was one of the prominent victims of the violence, sparking outrage and calls for justice from community leaders and civil society organizations.
The police chief assured that the command remains committed to ensuring justice and restoring peace in the troubled community. She also called on residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to maintain order.
The suspects are expected to face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
