The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a notorious criminal, Chukwuka Nwatu, known for instigating terror in Oruku, a community located in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. Nwatu, whose criminal activities have spanned several years, was apprehended following his involvement in a violent altercation with a neighboring community.
Local sources revealed that Nwatu has a long history of criminal activities, including arson, where he allegedly set fire to the homes of his rivals. Despite prior arrests, he managed to secure his release only to return to a life of crime.
According to a resident familiar with the incident, Nwatu’s most recent arrest occurred after he spearheaded an attack on the Aguikpa Autonomous Community, a neighboring village. The conflict was triggered when the Aguikpa youths allegedly destroyed a shrine Nwatu claimed ownership of after purchasing the land it was located on. The attack, however, did not go as planned.
“The chairman of the Oruku caretaker committee, who also serves as a native doctor, had employed Nwatu and a few others as personal security. The trouble started when the Aguikpa community took action against the shrine Nwatu had built on what he claimed was his land,” the source disclosed. “In retaliation, Nwatu and his group stormed Aguikpa, but to their surprise, they were overpowered by the local youths. The attackers were disarmed, and the police were alerted.”
Upon his arrest, law enforcement recovered AK-47 bullets from a bag found near Nwatu’s Point of Sale (POS) business, adding further evidence to his violent activities.
Efforts to reach the Enugu State Police Command for an official statement were unsuccessful, as the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls or text messages.
Nwatu’s arrest marks a significant victory for the local community, who have long suffered under the threat of his reign of terror. Further investigations are expected to shed more light on his criminal network and past activities.
