Killing of NYSC member in Imo: Police embark on mass arrest

POLICE in Imo State have embarked on massive arrest of community members of Ezuhu, Umuhu, Okwuato Community in Aboh Mbaise, following the killing in the early hours of Sunday of a National Youth Service Corps NYSC) member serving in that community, Hope Akpan. As a result, the residents have deserted the community in order to evade arrest.

The late Akpan, who hailed from Cross River State, until his death, was serving in one of the schools in the community before his mutilated lifeless body was said to have been found in his room.

Confirming the story, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the arrest was necessary in view of the magnitude of the offence of killing a corps member regarded as a national figure.

He said: “Yes we have arrested some people over the ugly incident. The killing of a national figure like that cannot be swept under the carpet. We have embarked on investigations. I cannot give you accurate figure of those arrested now.”

The Director of Welfare and Inspectorate of the National Youth Service Corps, Michael Ahile, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, expressed disgust over the murder of the corps member, stressing that the service was looking into the matter with the view of assisting the security agencies fish out the culprits.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Akpan, said to be a member of one of the Pentecostal churches, also cried profusely over the murder of his son who she had regarded as a future hope for the family.

The assailants left him in a pool of his own blood.

According to sources, Akpan’s broken door was found in his open room as his neighbours arrived, finding his legs tied to a wooden object after he was murdered.