Police arrest leader of cult group that killed retired CSP in Imo

Imo State Police Command said it had arrested the leader of a cult group that killed one Christian Kpatuma, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), in Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

The cult group were said to have abducted the late Kpatuma from his compound in the Mgbala Agwa area of Oguta, Imo State, murdered him and returned his corpse to his home.

In a statement on Friday, CSP Micheal Abattam, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said the leader of the cult group that committed the crime, one Daberechi Chukwu, had been arrested and had made a useful statement, and assisting police to apprehend his fleeing members.

The statement read, “Sequel to a report of a case of Murder received by the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters that, on 01/02/2022 at about 2152 hours, a group of young men suspected to be cultist resident in Mgbala Community Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State, conspired amongst themselves went to the house of one Christian Kpatuma, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police ( CSP ) and a native of Mgbala, abducted and took him to a nearby bush where they killed him and later carried the corpse back and dump it in front of his compound.  

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“On receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police,  Imo Command,  CP Rabiu Hussaini psc, immediately dispatched the ever active and gallant command’s tactical teams to the Agwa Community with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. 

“On arrival, the teams commenced a discreet investigation. And after a diligent gathering of both forensic and technical intelligence, one of the suspects, Daberechi Chukwu, the leader of the cult group that killed the retired police officer, CSP Christian Kpatuma was arrested while escaping to a border state.  

“In the course of Investigation, it was revealed that the suspect, Daberechi Chukwu is a notorious kidnapper and an escapee from the Imo Correctional Center Owerri, Imo State. The suspect, after escaping from the Imo Correctional Centre, recruited young men into his cult group and were terrorising the Agwa community. It is also on record that he was involved in the killings of a lot of security personnel in the state. However, he has made useful statements and has volunteered to assist the police in the arrest of other members of his gang presently, on the run.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini psc, has commended the officers and men for their gallantry and prompt action and has urged them to intensify efforts in ensuring that the other suspects were arrested. 

He then advised the good people of the community and the vigilante groups to work in collaboration with the police and give credible information that will assist in the arrest of other suspects.