Ojukwu Egwuatu, a priest of Ogwugwu shrine from Umudiana Umuleri, has been detained at Force CID Abuja for his alleged involvement in the killing of Ikeabali Onwuesi, a farmer from Igboezunu Aguleri. On September 9, 2024, Ojukwu reportedly led armed men to shoot Ikeabali on his farm in Mgboko. Despite initial reports to Otuocha police station and state CID Awka, Umudiana suspects refused to cooperate. They subsequently submitted a petition against the Mgboko victims at Force Headquarters Abuja to intimidate them and escape arrest in Anambra State.
In a surprising twist, Abuja's Commissioner of Police ordered Ojukwu and others to appear for questioning and to defend their petition. During the interview, the Commissioner made it clear that Ikeabali's community members accused Ojukwu of the crime, alongside Okwudili and Agbisi. Ojukwu's petition against Ikeabali's family was deemed frivolous.
The Commissioner criticized individuals for taking cases to Abuja with fraudulent intentions. An autopsy will be conducted on Ikeabali before burial. And more witnesses will be interviewed before the autopsy at Otuocha police station. Earlier, Aguleri's President General, Barr Rolex Ifeanyi Iloakasia, condemned the killing, urging calm, while Umuleri's President General, Mr John Mechie, remained silent, allegedly due to ties with Ojukwu Egwuatu.