Police launch manhunt for killers of Enugu market chairman

The police in Enugu State have begun a manhunt for the suspected killers of the Chairman of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association, Stephen Aniagu.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that a preliminary investigation by the police had revealed that the assailants had waylaid Aniagu along the Amechi Road area of the state, shot at him and escaped with his car on Saturday.

He added that upon receiving a report of the incident, policemen stormed the scene and took the victim to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The PPRO said, “The Enugu State Police Command operatives are on the trail of the armed assailants that shot and murdered the Chairman of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association, Enugu, Stephen Aniagu, at Topland, along Amechi Road, Enugu, around 8:20 p.m. of September 14, 2024.

“A preliminary investigation reveals that the unknown armed hoodlums, operating in a Toyota Corolla car, double-crossed and shot the victim, making away with his blue-coloured Toyota Corolla car.

“He was taken to the hospital by police operatives who hastened to the scene but was confirmed dead by doctors. His corpse was deposited in the mortuary for preservation and further investigative actions.”

He continued that a tactical team had been deployed to trail and arrest the suspects behind the killing of Aniagu while assuring the public that justice would be served.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered tactical squads of the command that are on the trail of the assailants to deploy all the intelligence and operational resources at their disposal to hunt the criminals down.

“He also orders the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to conduct a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances of the incident.

“CP Kanayo assures the public that the police will leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book soonest,” Ndukwe concluded.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Peter Mbah, has directed security agencies to apprehend the killers of the Chairman of the Ogbete Main Market Traders Association, Aniagu, within 48 hours.

In a signed statement on Sunday, Mbah vowed that such a heinous crime would not go unpunished under his administration.

He also expressed his condolences to the deceased’s family and OMMATA.

“In the meantime, I have directed security agencies in the state to apprehend his killers within 48 hours. As we have always maintained, and as every criminal in the state should now realise, we can bring them to justice.

“Therefore, those who committed this atrocity have bitten off more than they can chew.

“They have murdered sleep, and so neither they, nor the government, nor the security agencies will rest until all the perpetrators are captured and justice is served, under the law, sooner rather than later.”

Commiserating with Chief Aniagu’s family, community, and OMMATA, the governor noted that the late market leader served his community, the association, and Enugu State with distinction.

“The government and people of Enugu State grieve with them. However, I urge them to find solace in the service he rendered to our dear state and in the certainty that his killers will never go unpunished. It is a promise,” he concluded.