Police arrest Rivers murder suspect, exhume victim’s body

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 29 year old man, Robinson Uche, over his alleged involvement in the killing of a 42 year old man, Shedrack Ogadinma Chukwem.

Police authorities said the suspect, along with four others currently at large, was allegedly contracted by a monarch, Elijah Okere, to bring the victim to his palace.

The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, Uche was tracked and arrested at about 7:30 a.m. on March 6, 2026, by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emuoha Annex, following sustained investigation into the incident.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to participating in the crime, which occurred on December 17, 2025, in Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area.

He allegedly told investigators that he and four others identified as Prince (aka “Onyia-Army”), Achor, Gift Okere (aka “Nnaye”), and another yet to be identified accomplice were hired to bring the victim to the palace.

The police said the attempt to apprehend the victim during a family meeting was resisted, leading to a confrontation in which the group allegedly opened fire.

“The suspect further stated that in the course of the encounter, the group shot the deceased, resulting in his death,” the statement read.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects later transported the body to a bush at Ekerre-Ugbor, where it was buried in a shallow grave, before the remains were exhumed and deposited at the Military Hospital mortuary for autopsy after the suspect led operatives to the site.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, including the monarch, stating that justice would be pursued, while the spokesperson confirmed, “Not yet, but efforts are ongoing to arrest him.”