Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 34 Artillery Brigade have uncovered a shallow grave in Imo State and exhumed the remains of a community leader, Chief Ibe Anyadu, allegedly murdered by members of a criminal gang.
The operation was carried out on Sunday, August 2, in Umudike Forest, an area reportedly used as a hideout by criminal elements operating in the region.
The Army said the breakthrough followed intelligence-driven operations under Operation UDO KA and Operation EASTERN SANITY II, which recently led to the arrest of suspects allegedly linked to violent crimes, including the killing of a Nigerian Army soldier and the recovery of stolen service weapons.
According to the Army, one of the suspects confessed to involvement in Chief Anyadu’s murder and subsequently led troops to the location where the community leader was allegedly buried.
The remains were exhumed in the presence of members of the deceased’s family, vigilante personnel from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, as well as representatives of the Aggah and Umudike communities.
The family provided a coffin and ambulance for the recovery of the remains and to facilitate a dignified burial in line with the community’s customs and traditions.Commander of the Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, Major General Oluremi Ayobami Fadairo, expressed condolences to the family and prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased.
Fadairo assured the family and residents of Aggah Community that justice would be pursued, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with Nigerian law.
The Army said the recovery forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace in communities across the South-East.
It urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to support ongoing operations and help bring perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.