By Uju Mbanusi

The circumstances surrounding the death of a septuagenarian monarch, Chief Sunday Osune Nwaka, in his village, Mputu,15 kilometres away from Onitsha in Anambra State is giving police detectives serious concern.  In fact, in spite of the fact that one of the sons of the monarch is being fingered over the gruesome murder, family members are calling for justice, insisting that all the suspects so far arrested should be charged to court.

Nwaka was murdered in the pool of his blood on Sunday, September 22, 2013. Before he was allegedly knifed to death, the septuagenarian was the Odua of Mputu, a traditional High Chief and Patriarch of Okwuwa. He was said to be the second-in-command to the traditional royalty.

*Late Chief Nwaka

He was killed by suspected persons in the tussle for the traditional stool of his land.

Some suspects, including one of his sons are still in police custody at the police Zonal Headquarters in Umuahia.

His son John Nwaka and his kinsmen in Lagos have urged the police to unearth the mystery behind their father’s death.  “We want justice in the death of my father. The police should ensure that the culprits are brought to book. We learnt that money is exchanging hands in Awka and Umuahia, but we are sure that police will not compromise. It is a state crime so all those arrested should be investigated and those found connected to the death should serve their punishment. Anyone who does not know anything about it should be freed.

“The matter was first reported at Atani in Anambra State. It was transferred to Awka, and then from Awka, it was further transferred to Umuahia, the Zonal Headquarters. Before his death, one of my half brothers had repeatedly threatened that he would kill my father. He once threatened that my father will not see the end of the year.

The way he died shocked all of us. A sharp object like knife was used on his neck. We just found him dead by the riverside. They used water hyacinth to cover his body after they killed him. They wanted water to carry the body but we were lucky to have found the body the same day he died. The whole thing was caused by disagreement in the kingship of the land. Our cry now is justice and that is all,” he said.

Another of the monarch’s kingsmen who simply gave his name as Alfred told Crime Alert that they are all afraid of going to their village after the ugly incident because of fear of being killed.  According to him, the police have arrested those we feel had already being identified as pepertrators of the crime. “Prior to the murder, the suspects reported at Umuahia following allegations made against them for threatening of life and property.  Few days after they were released on bail, the murder of Odua Nwaka was carried out and it fell in line with their threat to unleash death.

“Our father was murdered using a multi-faced sword and his body thrown in the Okpolodum Lake and covered with weeds. The perpetuators of the dastardly act have hoped that the body will not be found until aquatic creatures have feasted on him thereby removing any evidence of being murdered.

“Our demand from the police is a thorough investigation and interrogation of the suspected culprits in the murder to forestall any further killings and destruction of lives; arrest and re-arrest all the identified persons mentioned in the murder for interrogation; Charge any indicted/suspected murderers of the deceased to court to ensure that justice is carried out; Release without delay, anyone found to be innocent of the accusations or charges; Create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility at Mputu where everyone will live in peace and harmony;

“We do not want another death, bloodbath or destruction of properties before government may act. We love our small community. We love the peace and tranquility we had lived in before the unhealthy and fateful rivalry. We have faith in the Nigeria Police and their abilities to unravel criminality. We have faith in the federal judiciary system. The time to act is now,”he stated.

Nwaka’s village, Mputu is an agrarian community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.