By Our Correspondent
Tension is mounting within the Anambra State Police Command following the arrest and detention of a prominent community leader and strong supporter of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Mr. Chigozie Omile, over a WhatsApp message he reportedly reforwarded in a group chat.
Omile was said to have been arrested on Tuesday evening by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at his shop in Main Market, Onitsha.
His arrest reportedly stemmed from a petition over the content of a social media post he allegedly shared.
Details of the petition remain unclear, as the identity of the petitioner and the exact nature of the message have not been made public.
However, sources said the issue may be politically motivated, given Omile’s known affiliation with the YPP — an opposition party in the state.
As of press time, Omile was still being detained at the SCID, where investigators are said to be probing the source and intent of the message in question.
A senior police officer who confirmed the arrest said the command would ensure fairness in handling the matter.
“Yes, the case is before us, but I have not seen the suspect yet. I will look into it and ensure justice is done. The command stands for justice, and once the truth is established, justice will prevail,” the officer said.
An insider at the command disclosed that a top-level meeting was ongoing to manage the situation carefully and prevent the matter from escalating or embarrassing some influential figures allegedly mentioned in the controversial post.
It was further gathered that a top government official had earlier lodged a complaint against Omile, reportedly triggering his arrest.
Some sources allege that the content of the forwarded message touched on sensitive personal issues involving high-profile individuals in the state.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, for an official reaction were unsuccessful, as he was said to be attending a high-level meeting believed to be related to the case.
A senior police officer told our correspondent that Omile would be released before the close of work today.
“There is no story here. He will be released,” the officer said.
