Ondo Police arrest suspect who murdered catholic priest as family alleges complicity

After four years, officials of the Ondo state Police Command have arrested one Simeon Nonye Anyaegbu in connection with the alleged armed robbery and gruesome murder of a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Godwin Ofonyelu and his younger brother, Obikwelu Ofonyelu.

Anyaegbu was apprehended on Tuesday 15 October 2019 and brought to Akure three days after by men of the state Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State following a tipoff after the widely reported the armed robbery where Rev Father Godwin and Obikwelu were attacked by the suspect with others who are still at large.

The Catholic Priest and his brother were allegedly set ablaze with their Jeep car by the suspect while traveling along Owo-Ose–Ikare Akoko road on their way from Lagos sometimes in 2015.

It was gathered that since the suspect was arrested one week ago, it was expected to be charged to court on Tuesday October 22, 2019 but the police men in charge of the case were alleged of complicity.

The family is now raising alarm over the delay in charging the suspect to court by the police.

The murdered siblings

In 2015, a group of armed men ambushed and killed Rev. Father Godwin Ofonyelu, 40 years, and his brother Late Obikwelu Ofonyelu, 36 years, along Owo-Ose road.

Anyaegbu who is of Umuajana Village, Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government, Anambra State was alleged to have masterminded the armed robbery and the killings of the two men because of the land dispute in Anambra State.

Sir Christian Ofonyelu, who is the father of two siblings, Rev. Father Godwin Ofonyelu and his brother Late Obikwelu Ofonyelu who were allegedly murdered in 2015, called for justice in the gruesome murder of his children.

The father also raised the alarm over threat to his life and other family members by one Simeon Nonye Anyaegbu suspected to be behind the death of his children.

It was learnt that the deceased were coming from Lagos when hoodlums waylaid them between Ose and Oba-Akoko and shot them several times while the vehicle in which they were travelling was said to have consequently burst into flames, a case police promised to arrest the perpetrators.

Four years after, the parent has however raised alarm that the suspected perpetrator of the dastardly act was still yet to be charged to court even after his recent arrest.

In a petition addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police,
Ondo State Police Command
Akure,Ondo State and dated 19/08/2019, the deceased father, through his legal counsels said “Sir, this is to inform you that one Simeon Nonye Anyaegbu of Umuajana Village, Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government, Anambra State has confessed to masterminding the armed robbery and their killings because of the land dispute he has with our client.”

Reacting, the Police Public Relations officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said the police would followed due process in investigating the case.

The Police spokesman noted that the case would be charged to court at appropriate time.

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