The Anambra State Police Command has arrested ten individuals in connection with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a respected farmer and community leader, Chief Augustine Chido, in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state. The arrest follows an investigation by the police into the circumstances surrounding the killing, which has shocked the local community.
Chief Chido, also known as High Chief Gbafankiti na Nimo, was abducted by masked assailants on the morning of June 19, 2025, while working at his piggery farm in Nimo. Despite a ransom payment reportedly being made by his family, the victim was killed, and his lifeless body was discovered near the same farm on June 23.
The police confirmed that his body was recovered and deposited in a morgue for autopsy and further investigation.
The deceased was not only a prominent farmer but also a retired Chevron contractor and a respected member of the Nimo Royal Cabinet. After his retirement, he returned to his hometown and focused on agriculture, particularly pig farming, as a way of contributing to the local economy and staying engaged with his community.
The arrests were announced on Sunday by the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga. According to him, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) based in Awkuzu carried out the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
“Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu on 28th June 2025 arrested ten (10) suspects over an ongoing investigation of a recovered lifeless body of an alleged kidnapped victim near a piggery farm at Nimo on 23rd June, 2025,” the police statement read.
Ikenga stated that the suspects are currently being interrogated, and the police are processing the information gathered during their questioning. He added that further actions would be taken in accordance with directives issued by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
CP Orutugu, who holds several national and international policing credentials, including fwc, MNIPS, and a PhD, has reportedly directed the operatives to pursue the case with urgency and ensure that all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.
The killing of Chief Augustine Chido has sparked outrage in the Nimo community, where he was regarded as a key figure in both traditional leadership and agricultural development. Many residents have called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted without delay and that security in the area is enhanced to prevent similar occurrences.
This incident adds to a growing list of high-profile abductions and killings across Nigeria, where security remains a pressing concern. Despite efforts by security agencies to combat kidnapping and violent crime, rural areas in particular have remained vulnerable to such attacks.
The Anambra State Police Command has urged the public to remain calm and assured citizens that thorough investigations are underway. The command also appealed for continued cooperation from the public, encouraging residents to report any suspicious activity that may help in resolving the case fully.
It is not yet clear whether all the ten suspects directly participated in the abduction and murder or if some were accomplices who aided the crime before or after its execution. The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Meanwhile, family members and residents of Nimo continue to mourn the loss of Chief Chido, describing him as a generous, visionary leader and an advocate for self-reliance through agriculture. Many have emphasized that his death is not only a personal tragedy but also a setback for the development of farming in the area.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made public as the family awaits the conclusion of the investigation and autopsy. The community is expected to hold a vigil in his honor in the coming days.
Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to justice and to ensuring that communities across Anambra State are protected from the growing threat of criminal gangs targeting wealthy individuals and community leaders.
