By Our Correspondent
The elected youth leader of Umusi Olokwa community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State has been murdered.
The youth leader-elect, Stanley Nwoke, was allegedly killed on the night of Saturday, March 15, 2025, about eight ten weeks after being declared the winner of the election held on January 3, 2025. There had been tension over the outcome of the election that produced him.
Information gathered disclosed that the murders while executing the crime also injured four of his siblings and set nine houses ablaze.
According to Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma who had visited the place, condemned the murder and confirmed that arrests had been made.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Danjuma, has condemned the gruesome murder of Stanley Nwoke, the Youth Leader-elect of Umusi/Olokwa Community in Owerri West LGA. The attack, which occurred on March 15, 2025, at about 9:00 PM, left four of his siblings injured and resulted in the burning of nine houses.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the violence erupted after a youth election held on January 3, 2025, in which Nwoke was declared the winner. A faction allegedly led by Chinaza Nwachukwu and others, who are currently at large, is suspected to be behind the attack.
“In response to the incident, CP Aboki Danjuma, alongside his management team, visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment. During the visit, he commiserated with the bereaved families and those whose houses were destroyed. He assured them of the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice and preventing future violence.
As at the time of filing this report, four suspects have been arrested and are currently undergoing investigation, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing other ones. Meanwhile, the deceased’s body has been deposited at the morgue while the injured victims are receiving medical care in a hospital.
Statement from the PPRO Okoye, “The Commissioner of Police assures the public that normalcy has been restored in Umusi/Olokwa Community, with security measures in place to prevent further unrest. CP urges all stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasizing that violence is not a solution to disputes. He also calls on community leaders to adopt peaceful conflict resolution strategies to prevent future occurrences.”
