INVESTIGATION: Awka North Chairman Accused of Blocking Arrest of Ebenebe Robbery Suspects

~ Suspect later arrested in connection with another alleged robbery, mother remains at large

By Ifeizu Joe

An investigation by THE RAZOR has uncovered allegations that the Chairman of Awka North Local Government Area, Hon. Thankgod Anagor, intervened during an attempt by police operatives to arrest two persons being investigated in connection with an alleged robbery in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The two persons, Mr. Simon Orakwulu and his mother, Mrs. Peace Orakwulu, had been linked by investigators to transactions involving N1 million allegedly transferred from the account of a robbery victim.

The newspaper could not independently establish that either of the two persons participated in the robbery. Both remain suspects in the matter and have not been convicted of any offence.

Mr. Chukwunonso Ikeyina, a businessman based in Amagu Umuoye, Ebenebe, is a motorcycle spare-parts dealer and POS operator.

According to Ikeyina, he had concluded his business for the day on July 7, 2026, and retired to his home, where, at about 1am, four armed men allegedly entered his compound, broke into his house and held him hostage.

He alleged that the attackers took about N1.5 million in cash from him before demanding his POS machine, which they allegedly used to transfer another N1 million.

Ikeyina subsequently reported the incident to the police at Ebenebe Division and provided information concerning the account to which the electronic transfer was allegedly made.

He told THE RAZOR that he had incurred substantial expenses in connection with efforts to get the matter investigated.
“I need help because my business is already down. To add to that, I have spent over N500,000 for the investigation of this matter, and police keeps asking for money from me,” he said.

Human rights advocate, Comrade Osita Obi, became involved in the matter after the victim’s brother, a commercial tricycle operator, reportedly brought the case to his attention.

Obi subsequently met with the victim and efforts were made to pursue the matter with the police.

According to documents reviewed by THE RAZOR, the N1 million allegedly transferred from Ikeyina’s POS machine was credited to a Moniepoint account bearing the name Peace Orakwulu.

The newspaper reviewed a statement of account obtained from Moniepoint following a court order and accompanying affidavits.

The statement gave an address for the account holder as 30, Orakwulu Compound, Amaezike Village, Mgbakwu, Awka North.

The account statement reviewed by THE RAZOR showed that the N1 million was subsequently transferred in portions to other accounts.

One transfer of N150,000 was made to an account allegedly belonging to another suspect whose identity is being withheld because the investigation is ongoing.

The newspaper was informed that the person was subsequently arrested and remains in police custody.

Another transfer, listed in the documents as N280,000, was linked by investigators to an account bearing the name Simon Orakwulu.

The financial records, however, do not by themselves establish the purpose of every transaction or prove that the recipients participated in the robbery.

Further investigation by the police was therefore required to establish the identities of the persons behind the transactions and determine whether the transfers were connected to the Ebenebe robbery.

As the investigation progressed, police operatives reportedly traced Peace and Simon Orakwulu to Mgbakwu on Saturday, August 29, during the Anambra State local government election.

According to accounts obtained by THE RAZOR, the operatives attempted to arrest the two persons but encountered resistance.

It was further alleged that the Chairman of Awka North Local Government Area, Hon. Thankgod Anagor, who was at the time seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), intervened and opposed the arrest.

The circumstances surrounding the intervention could not be independently established by THE RAZOR beyond the accounts provided by persons familiar with the incident and the subsequent statement attributed to the police.

The newspaper contacted Anagor for his response to the allegation.

Several calls to his private telephone line were unanswered. A WhatsApp message sent to him was delivered but had not received a response as of the time of filing this report.

The message informed him of the allegations concerning the attempted arrest and sought his explanation before publication.

The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed to THE RAZOR that police operatives had been deployed to arrest the suspects but did not return with them.

According to Ikenga, the local government chairman’s intervention prevented the operatives from carrying out the arrests.

The police spokesperson’s account could not, however, be independently corroborated by the newspaper with an on-the-record account from Anagor.
There has subsequently been a new development in the case.

Simon Orakwulu, one of the persons earlier sought by the police, has reportedly been arrested in connection with another alleged robbery incident in the Amansea/Ebenebe axis.

A source said Orakwulu was allegedly involved in another robbery operation in the area before residents apprehended him and handed him over to the police.

The circumstances of that arrest are also subject to police investigation, and THE RAZOR has not independently established the allegations against him.

Comrade Osita Obi confirmed the arrest on Sunday after visiting the police division where Orakwulu was being detained.

Obi said the arrest presented an opportunity for investigators to question Orakwulu over the earlier Ebenebe robbery allegation.

He said: “Fate has a way of dealing with people. The same suspect who the Mayor stopped police officers from arresting a week ago has involved himself in another robbery and has finally been arrested.”

Obi added that Ikeyina should use the development to make a further statement to the police concerning his alleged involvement in the Ebenebe incident.

The latest development has renewed questions among residents about the circumstances surrounding the earlier attempted arrest and the alleged intervention.

The police investigation is expected to establish whether the financial transactions reviewed by THE RAZOR were connected to the Ebenebe robbery and whether any of the persons named in the investigation had any involvement in the crime.

Until the investigation is concluded and the courts determine otherwise, the persons mentioned in connection with the matter remain suspects and are presumed innocent.