The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the immediate re-arrest of two criminal suspects linked to an armed robbery case, following the discovery of what he described as an “unacceptable administrative lapse” by a police prosecutor.
The suspects, identified as Onyebuchi Nwobodo and Ebube Umezumba, were initially arrested over an alleged criminal offence bordering on armed robbery but were later released under unclear circumstances. However, new testimonies from victims who directly identified the duo as active participants in the robbery prompted the police to revisit the matter.
Confirming the development in a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command has filed fresh charges before the High Court in the state to ensure justice is served.
Ikenga stated:
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed the immediate re-arrest of one Onyebuchi Nwobodo and Ebube Umezumba, alleged criminal offenders, over a case of armed robbery, following the discovery of an administrative lapse by a police prosecutor.
In a swift response, the command has filed a new charge before the High Court sitting in the state to ensure that justice is duly served. The command also notes a new testimony by victims who identified the suspects as active participants in the case of armed robbery.
He further explained that the CP, in line with his zero-tolerance stance on professional negligence, has ordered disciplinary measures against the officers involved in the error. According to him, the command under CP Orutugu will not condone lapses that jeopardize justice and public confidence in law enforcement.
This decisive action underscores the command’s unwavering commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the rule of law in the discharge of its duties,” Ikenga stressed.
Background of Similar Rearrest
The fresh directive brings to mind a similar case earlier this year, where the Anambra State Police Command successfully rearrested a high-profile suspect after he had escaped custody.
On May 13, 2025, police operatives rearrested Ikemefuna Ossai, a suspect linked to the kidnapping and gruesome murder of the late Justice Azuka, a member representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Ossai was first arrested on February 6, 2025, the same day the lifeless body of Justice Azuka who had been abducted on December 24, 2024 was discovered near the Second Niger Bridge by security operatives. However, he managed to escape police custody on February 18, alongside another gang member, during a botched attempt by officers to apprehend an additional suspect at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area.
Following his escape, Ossai was tracked across multiple states in Nigeria and even into a neighbouring West African country. The police eventually rearrested him in Asaba, Delta State, on May 7, 2025.
According to SP Ikenga, the rearrest was the result of painstaking and intelligence-led operations coordinated by a team led by a former Officer-in-Charge of the Anambra Special Anti-Robbery Squad, CSP Ifeanyi Iburu.
The statement at the time read:
The suspect, who had previously escaped custody, was tracked across multiple states within Nigeria and even into a neighbouring West African country. He was eventually apprehended on May 7, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State. Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly subdued and sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in the process.”
CP’s Tough Stance
Observers say CP Orutugu’s latest directive reflects the command’s renewed drive to strengthen accountability within the police force and ensure suspects facing serious charges do not escape justice due to administrative lapses.
His stance also highlights the growing public demand for transparency in police investigations, particularly in high-stakes cases involving violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder.
Meanwhile, security analysts have welcomed the order for the suspects’ re-arrest, stressing that it will help restore public trust in the justice system. They also noted that the police’s willingness to admit lapses and correct them immediately shows a positive shift in handling criminal cases in the state.
The Anambra State Police Command has assured residents that it will continue to prioritize professionalism and maintain its zero-tolerance stance toward negligence, while also working to strengthen its internal disciplinary mechanisms.