In a disturbing incident that has drawn nationwide condemnation, the Imo State Police Command has initiated a full-scale investigation into the brutal assault of 55-year-old Ndididamaka Agu by a group of men at Emekuku, near Owerri North Local Government Area. The assault reportedly occurred because the victim cooperated with law-enforcement officers in an earlier investigation.

Incident Overview

According to the state command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye, the assault was captured in a viral video that circulated online. The victim hails from Umuakaliukwu Kindred, Uboegbelu, Azaraubo, Emekuku. Following the outrage, Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma ordered immediate action and tasked the X-Squad Unit with identifying, arresting and prosecuting every individual involved.

In the official statement:

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was attacked by six men … the assault was allegedly carried out because the woman cooperated with police officers who had earlier visited the community for investigative purposes.” The Eagle Online+1

The CP described the act as “barbaric, inhuman, and totally unacceptable”, and emphasized that any form of jungle justice or intimidation of citizens who assist the police will not be tolerated.

Suspects & Motivation

Investigations have revealed the names of six suspects reportedly involved in the attack:

• Osuji Chiazor
• Agu Azubike
• Njoku Onyedikachi
• Njoku Eugene
• Njoku Dikachi
• Njoku Emmanuel
• Iwuala Chukwuma Vanguard News+1

The motive appears to be retaliation: the victim had assisted police officers who visited the community for investigative operations. This underscores a worrying pattern of citizen-bystander harm in communities.

Broader Implications

The incident raises significant concerns:

• Willingness of citizens to assist law enforcement may decline, if those who cooperate face retaliation.
• Community policing strategies risk breakdown if citizens feel unprotected rather than protected.
• The assault brings attention to law-and-order challenges in the region, especially when videos surface and force public accountability.

Experts say that incidents like this undermine trust in the justice system and highlight the urgent need for citizen protection mechanisms.