The Imo State Police Command has arrested Obinna Obiekea, also known as Losky, and his son, Chidubem Obiekea, for allegedly setting fire to a kinsman, Chima Okafor, on New Year’s Day.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed that the two suspects are in police custody and stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Our correspondent gathered that the prime suspect and one of his sons arrested in Oguta has being transferred to the homicide section of the State CID in Owerri for a case of murder that would an autopsy will be conducted by a pathologist.
The father of the deceased, Mr. Uche Okafor, revealed on Monday that his 35-year-old son was dragged out of a church on December 31, in the Nnebugwu autonomous community of Oguta LGA, where he was attending a crossover night service.
In a petition to the Imo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okafor alleged that the suspects set his son on fire for supposedly stealing a pair of jeans valued at N25,000.
He further explained that his son was taken to a church-owned hospital in Mgbele, Oguta, where he ultimately died from his injuries due to the severe burns he sustained during the attack.
Okafor who hails from Umuisoms village in Nnebugwu Autonomous Community in Oguta Council Area in the petition dated January 6 and tilted “Killing of my son on January Ist by Mr Obinna Obiekea, Nwamaka Obiekea, Eloka and Chidubem Obiekea, he said that his son, 35, Chima Okafor was burnt to death by Obinna Obiekea (Losky) with his wife, Nwamaka Obiekea, sons Eloka and Chidubem Obiekea on January 1st in my hometown.
He disclosed that already the matter has been transfered to state CID with Obinna Obiekea (Losky) and Chidubem Obiekea arrested by the police while Eloka and Nwamaka are at large.
The father of the feceased child urged the Imo CP to use his good offices to ensure that those at large are arrested and justice dispensed in this matter.
Okafor urged the CP, the state governor, President Bola Tinubu, to ensure that justice is served in the matter.
