The Imo State Police have confirmed the gruesome murder of a 64-year-old man, Barrister Ndieonyema Nwankwo who was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch.

A statement signed by the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer Orlando Ikeokwu, on Sunday, explained that when the command received the report of the murder, operatives were immediately deployed to the scene of the incident (his office).

According to the PPRO, they met the lawyer’s lifeless body in a pool of blood and machete cuts were seen on his neck.

Ikeokwu noted that while taking a further look around the office, a machete with bloodstains, suspected to have been used in inflicting the cuts on him, was found on the floor.

He said it was also discovered that his car and other yet to be identified items were taken away.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Nasiru Mohammed, while calling for calm, has also ordered an investigation into the matter, with a view to arresting the fleeing suspects and recovering the stolen items.

In the meantime, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olumide Akpata has expressed his sadness over the gruesome killing, and noted that he has called some leaders of the Owerri Branch in that regards.

The NBA President made this comment via a post on his official twitter handle. ‘I am devastated to hear of the gruesome killing of a past Chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association,
N. H. Nwankwo Esq which said event took place at his office at 43 School Road Owerri, Imo State where he had gone to work on Saturday 6 February 2021.

I have called the Branch Chairman, Mr J. I. Ogamba & past Chair, Mr Damian Nwanosike to express my condolences. I pray that God grants his family the fortitude to bear this loss while I call on Nigerian Police Force to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book.’ the post reads.