“Those Who Beheaded Imo LG Chairman In 2022 Have Been Arrested” – Gov. Uzodinma

By Charles Igbo

The devil in human skin who carried out one of the most gruesome murders in Imo State has been arrested. And so have some of his accomplices and cheer leaders.

This was revealed on Sunday by the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Recall that in 2022, Mr Chris Ohizu, the Chairman of Ideato North Local Government Area was abducted from his house in his village. It is not known if his abductors contacted his family for ransom, or if any ransom was paid. But all efforts to locate and rescue him by Security Agencies were in vain.

Then days later, a scene that left not a few people frozen in shock, and still haunts them and triggers goose pimples, unfolded on WhatsApp platforms.

It was a video of the beheading of the LG Chairman.

He was brought out and made to kneel down in a not-too bushy area, surrounded by blood thirsty exciited boys. He was there, like a ram taken to a slaughter house. Tired. Helpless. The difference: the ram had no idea of the fate that awaited him. And, does not talk. But Ohizu knew his end was near. He was not crying. There were no tears streaming down his cheeks from his now gaunt looking eyes and face. But he made one more appeal to them, an appeal, perhaps he had been making since his abduction.

This time what he said was not audible. But from the response of the one who was gradually, but steadily tying his two hands behind him, what he said could easily be guessed. He was appealing to them, perhaps, to allow him see somebody and get something, perhaps his wife, perhaps his children. But the guy who was tying his hands heartlessly responded in Igbo language: “What makes you think you will see them again?” They were videoing and recording.

Some of them either covered their faces, or didn’t let their faces be videod. But the one who was tying his hands showed his face. They didn’t even cover Ohizu’s face so he wouldn’t see how he was going to be killed.

It now reminds one of the very starved, emaciated 24- year old Israeli hostage in Gaza who, shovel in hand, was made  to be digging his own grave. Sheer torture.

So, they let Ohizu watch as they tied him. They let him see the sharp machete with which they would behead him. And they let him watch them as they began the evil deed of beheading him.

Since that 2022, the outrage had gone down. But not the scene that still haunts. Not the pain, the heartache his family and friends had gone through, and are still going through by the mere thought of what he went through. Everybody thought that the case has gone cold. That the Government and security agencies have forgotten.

But on this Sunday of 3rd August, 2025, Governor Uzodinma dropped what, in the circumstances, could be taken as good news.

While angrily addressing the recent slaughter of tens of people in, again, in Arondizuogu, same Ideato, after a Church Service at the Government House Chapel, Uzodinma dropped the bomb. The person who beheaded the Chairman of the Ideato North LGA in 2022 has been arrested, and is in custody, and has mentioned names.

Said the visibly angry Governor as he vowed to stop at nothing to stop the senseless killings in Imo:

“Two years after, we have arrested the man who beheaded him (LG Chairman) and the man has confessed as the one who did it and has mentioned some individuals that he is working for.

“Some of them have been invited by the police and they are under interrogation.”

The Governor stressed that government will stop at nothing to ensure that those who had a hand in the dastardly act face the wrath of the law, “as many more will be invited.”

Their arrest, prosecution or even hanging, if found guilty, will not bring back Ohizu to life, or erase the pain and trauma of his family, but it is some consolation.