Police arrest man for killing his friend after defrauding him in a land deal

The Anambra State Police Command has revealed the circumstances surrounding the grisly murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of ​​the state.

The man had been declared missing a few days ago, but was later found dead, and police investigations showed that his death was planned by his friend in collaboration with others, after conning him out of money for non-existent property.

A press release issued by the spokesperson of the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the revelation came after the arrest of a friend of the deceased, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, 32, who allegedly confessed to planning the murder and involving two others in carrying out the act.

Ikenga said, “Following a report on 18 August 2026 from the wife of the deceased, that her husband had gone out on the evening of 17 August 2026 and had not returned home.

“Police agents, in collaboration with members of the local vigilante group and the family of the deceased, immediately initiated investigations and search operations to determine his whereabouts.

However, in the evening of the same day, the wife returned to the station in a distressed state and reported that her husband had been found dead in a nearby bush in Umuobi, Awkuzu.

Ikenga said police officers were immediately deployed to the scene, where the deceased was found lying lifeless with an ax deep in his head.

He said in the course of investigations, the Command arrested Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, a friend of the deceased, who allegedly admitted his involvement in the planning and murder of Mr Kelechi Madu.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained money fraudulently from the deceased under the guise of helping him acquire a plot of land. In an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transactions and hide the money obtained from the deceased, the suspect reportedly hired two other people to kill him.

“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that investigations be intensified to identify and arrest all those involved in the conspiracy and murder.

“The command is determined to ensure that everyone involved in these crimes is brought to justice. The command further assured the people of Anambra State that they will continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnerships to prevent violent crimes, uncover criminal activities and ensure that perpetrators face the full severity of the law,” the release said.