One Arrested as Police Begin Probe of Ogboji Massacre
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect as part of a joint security investigation into the gruesome murder of ten persons in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area.
The arrest was disclosed during a fact-finding visit to the crime scene on Tuesday, July 2, 2025, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, alongside a Joint Security Team comprising officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other sister agencies.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, identified the suspect as Sunday Mbanu, who is currently assisting investigators with vital information.
The Commissioner described the incident as the “cowardly action of the common enemies of the State,” and dismissed speculations that the killings were ethnically targeted.
“This is not a targeted attack on any indigene of any State. It is a heinous act by those who seek to destabilize our communities,” CP Orutugu said.
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During the visit, the Joint Security Team met with stakeholders, including the Traditional Prime Minister, the President-General of Ogboji, and the son of the landlord of the building where the attack occurred. Preliminary findings suggest that the incident may be linked to an ongoing leadership dispute within the Association of Ebonyi State indigenes living in the area.
According to accounts from community members, the victims were attending a meeting of a factional group within the Ebonyi community when the attack occurred. It was further revealed that a petition had been written earlier to the Ogboji President-General over the internal crisis but was not formally reported to security agencies.
While efforts were underway to resolve the conflict through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the situation reportedly escalated into violence.
The son of the landlord, whose compound hosted the meeting, confirmed that one of the deceased was a tenant and provided additional details now being pursued by investigators.
The joint team also paid a courtesy visit to the Traditional Ruler of Ekwulobia, and extended condolences to the people of Ebonyi State, especially the families of the deceased. They also wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to justice and assured that no effort would be spared in tracking down the perpetrators.
“The Command remains resolute in its determination to bring all those responsible for this heinous crime to book,” the statement read.
