By Chuks Eke
A group of concerned citizens from Awka, Anambra state capital has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, Zone 13, Ukpo demanding a discreet investigation into what they described as homicide and sudden death of an elderly woman, Madam Grace Nwijeamaka Nweke 10 days after a team of policemen from Zone 13 raided her private home in Awka.
In the petition dated in February, this year, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, the petitioners, Comrade Patrick Nweke, Comrade Ejike Obiorah and Nkechi Obi alleged that a team of policemen from the Zone 13 Zonal Criminal Investigations Department, ZCID had on Wednesday, January 21, this year stormed the then sick Madam Nweke’s home and allegedly ransacked all now is and crannies of the rooms in a violent raid that choked the sick woman.
The petitioners further alleged that the said violent police raid of Madam Nweke’s home located at No. 2B Achutu Street, Chukwumba Avenue, Umuduoka Village, Awka which was instigated by Dr. Mrs. Aguiyi Anuli Ihuoma, Mr. Theodore Onuko and Mr. Ugochukwu Onuko, ultimately resulted in the death of Madam Nweke on January 31, this year, exactly 10 days after the raid.
In the petition which was copied to CRU Headquarters, Abuja, National Human Rights Commission, Awka, Take It Back Movement, Nigeria and Afam Osuigwe SAN, President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, they petitioners are requesting the AIG to conduct a thorough, impartial and independent investigations into the police raid and the circumstances leading to the death of Madam Nweke.
They recalled that the police raid might not be unconnected with a credible report published by one Mr. Chukwunenye Nweke, an investigative journalist, anti-corruption crusader and human rights activist who is the eldest son of the late Madam Nweke.
They also recalled that the report published by Chukwunenye Nweke exposed alleged criminal activities committed by the trio of Dr. Mrs. Aguiyi Anuli Ihuoma, Mr. Ndu Onuko, Mr. Ugo Onuko and others, adding that Chukwunenye formally reported these matters to the Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Ukpo where the cases were initially assigned to the Monitoring Unit at Zone 13.
They said that following the police investigations which reportedly indicted Dr. Mrs. Ihuoma for criminal acts, including the uttering of false police statements, creation of fake police statement papers, threat to life, false information, Cybercrimes and other offences, she lodged a counter-petition against Chukwunenye at the same Zone 13, Ukpo.
They said Dr. Mrs. Ihuoma’s counter-petition was assigned to one Otagba David of the ZCID which prompted the arrest of Chukwunenye by the police on Friday, September 19, 2025, alleging that on the course of investigation, the police exhibited manifest bias and a clear intention to shield Ihuoma and her associates from justice or trial.
They said when it became obvious to Ihuoma and her cohorts that they were deeply indicted of criminal acts and that the complaint which they made to the police at Zone 13 against Chukwunenye was misleading information, aimed at pervating the course of justice and delaying or frustrating police investigations into their criminal and fraudulent acts, Ihuoma and her cohorts reached an agreement with Chukwunenye to resolve the matter out of court/police.
They said that at a stage, a reconciliation meeting was scheduled by both parties to resolve the impasse but the meeting did not hold till date because Ihuoma gave an excuse that she was going for a seminar in Minna, Niger state, which compelled Chukwunenye to issue a press statement on various social media and at the same time petitioned Otagba David to investigate the breach of agreement by Ihuoma
They said that inspire of all the efforts being made to resolve the matter amicably and restore peace, Ihuoma and her associates allegedly connived with the police from Zone 13 and stormed the home of Chukwunenye and his mother, Grace and raided all nooks and crannies in search of court processes and other documentary evidences in possession of Chukwunenye relating to the criminal acts perpetrated by Ihuoma and her cohorts with intent to seize and conceal the documentary evidences.
They said it was as a result of the traumatic raid carried out by the police at Chukwunenye’s family house on that Janusry 21 that Madam Nweke who was a known hypertensive patient, suffered severe shock and distress, leading to her untimely death on January 31, this year.
They therefore urged the AIG to ensure that all persons found culpable are promptly charged before a court of competent jurisdiction, adding that they trust in his office’s commitment to justify, accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Efforts by newsmen to get in touch with Dr. Mrs. Ihuoma proved abortive as her phone line said she was not reachable as at the time of filing this report.
