Rivers police arrest suspect, recover decomposed body in Igbo-Etche murder case

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By Davies Iheamnachor, Port Harcourt

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Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Shedrack Ogadinma Chukwem in Umuemeshie Community, Chokota, Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area.

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The victim, a 42-year-old indigene, was killed in December 2025 under circumstances linked to an alleged conspiracy, police said.

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The suspect, Robinson Uche, 29, a native of Umuechem in Etche LGA, was apprehended on March 6 by the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emuohia Annex, following sustained investigations.

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Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, confirmed that Uche confessed to participating in the murder and burial of Chukwem. According to the suspect, he and four others—identified as Prince (“Onyia-Army”), Achor, Gift Okere (“Nnaye”), and an unnamed individual—were allegedly hired by Chief Elijah Okere to take the victim to his palace.

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“The suspect stated that upon arriving at the location where the deceased was attending a family meeting, their attempt to apprehend him failed, leading to Chukwem being shot and killed,” Iringe-Koko said.

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Uche led police to the burial site at Ekerre-Ugbor, where the victim was hastily interred in a shallow grave. The remains have been recovered and deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.

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Authorities said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other suspects, who remain at large.

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