By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the death of Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme, the former President of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), following widespread public outcry and media reports linking his demise to injuries allegedly inflicted during an enforcement operation by agents of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), allegedly accompanied by some armed policemen.
According to the reports, Mr. Akaneme, a prominent businessman and respected community figure in Onitsha, sustained severe spinal injuries during the said operation carried out on the 11th of October, 2024.
It was alleged that the enforcement team, in their bid to enforce and collect environmental levy from Akaneme on that fateful day, used excessive force, which led to the physical assault on him, to the point of breaking his spinal cord. Since that incident, the businessman had reportedly battled for survival until he eventually passed away on the 10th of July, 2025 — a death now believed by many to be connected to the October 2024 incident.
Reacting in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Command acknowledged the disturbing narrative surrounding Mr. Akaneme’s demise and expressed deep condolences to his family, associates, and the broader business community, noting his immense contributions to the socio-economic growth of the state.
The Command revealed that an internal inquiry had initially been initiated shortly after the October 2024 incident, adding that preliminary findings from that investigation indicated that some actions by individuals involved in the enforcement operation did not align with the professional and procedural standards expected of law enforcement agencies. However, with Mr. Akaneme’s passing, the police said the case has now been reopened.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD, has consequently ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to immediately review the case file and conduct a thorough and comprehensive probe into all aspects of the October 11, 2024 operation, as well as any actions or inactions that followed.
The statement also reiterated that no officer of the Nigeria Police Force is above the law and assured the public that anyone found culpable of misconduct or professional negligence in connection with the incident will face the full weight of disciplinary and legal actions. The Command further disclosed that it is already liaising with relevant state agencies to ensure total transparency and cooperation throughout the investigation.
CP Orutugu, while calling for calm, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights; even as he reassured the Akaneme family and the general public that the truth will surely be uncovered and justice served on the matter.
