Imo Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Stabbing In-Law To Death, Nab Kidnap Suspect

The Imo State Police Command has arrested 40-year-old Uchenna Okpara for allegedly stabbing his in-law, Uchenna Unakalamba, to death during a dispute involving their children.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Owerri, revealing that the incident occurred on January 16, 2025, in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to the police, a disagreement between the children of the two men escalated, leading to a heated altercation. Okpara allegedly attacked Unakalamba with a broken bottle during the argument.

“The anti-kidnapping unit operatives arrested the suspect, Uchenna Okpara, on January 16, 2025, for allegedly stabbing his in-law, Uchenna Unakalamba, to death,” Okoye said.

Police responded to a distress call, apprehended the suspect, and recovered the weapon used in the attack. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital, and his body has been deposited in a morgue.

“The suspect is currently in custody as investigations continue. He will be prosecuted once the investigation is concluded,” Okoye added.

In a separate operation, the Imo State Police Command arrested Ozioma Dike, a suspected member of a notorious kidnap syndicate, during a raid on a hideout in a forest near Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area.

Okoye reported that on January 16, 2025, operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit acted on credible intelligence and stormed the hideout.

A gunfight ensued during the operation, leading to Dike’s arrest, while other gang members fled into the forest. Police recovered a pump-action rifle with seven live rounds of ammunition and an iPhone belonging to a victim kidnapped on January 8, 2025, in Ubomiri.

During interrogation, Dike reportedly confessed to being part of a gang responsible for multiple kidnappings in the Ubomiri, Ogbaku, and Ohii communities in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

Okoye assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members, reiterating the Command’s commitment to combating criminal activities.

“The arrested suspect remains in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” Okoye said.

The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has pledged to sustain peace and enhance the safety of residents across Imo State.