Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
He is only 22 years old. But in the dark underworld of Obosi, a bustling commercial town in Anambra State, Favour Izunna, known to his gang as Njoku, was already a certified executioner. For months, residents lived in fear as young men were picked off in targeted assassinations, their killers vanishing into the maze of unlit streets. On April 30, 2026, that reign of terror hit a wall. Operatives of the Special Anti‑Cultism Unit based in Enugwu Ukwu finally caught up with Izunna. What emerged from his confession is a chilling portrait of a hired gun, a cult‑backed killing machine, and the sponsors who allegedly paid him to pull the trigger.
The Anambra State Police Command announced the breakthrough on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga. According to the statement, Izunna is a card‑carrying member of the Vikings Confraternity, one of the most violent cult groups operating in the South‑East. Within the cult, he served as an executioner, a role that involves eliminating rivals, settling scores, and instilling terror in communities that refuse to cooperate. His primary hunting ground was Obosi, a town that has witnessed a disturbing spike in violent deaths over the past year. Until his arrest, no one had linked the killings to a single hand.
The police recovery list reads like the inventory of a small arms dealer. From a criminal hideout in Obosi, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from Awkuzu recovered one pump‑action gun, five live cartridges, one locally made Beretta pistol, and seven rounds of 7.5mm live ammunition. These weapons, the police believe, were used in multiple murder and kidnapping operations. But the real weight of the case lies in Izunna’s verbal confession. Under interrogation, he admitted to the gruesome murder of at least five persons in Obosi. While he could not immediately recall all their names, he clearly identified three victims: Somtochukwu Alfred (male), Udechukwu Izuchukwu (male), and Izuchukwu Obi (male). Their families have since been notified, and the police are now working to confirm the identities of the other two victims based on open cases in the area.
Perhaps the most alarming part of the confession was Izunna’s revelation that he did not act alone. According to the statement, the suspect disclosed the involvement of certain sponsors who allegedly contracted him to carry out the killings within the community. These sponsors, whose names have not been released, are believed to be influential individuals with vested interests in the local power structure. The police have not disclosed whether the sponsors are politicians, business owners, or cult leaders, but the implication is clear: the violence in Obosi was not random. It was a paid service, a bloody business where human lives were traded for contracts.
In addition to the murders, Izunna admitted to participating in several kidnapping operations across Anambra State. He named two victims: Emeka Chukwuka (male) and Chinelo Onyeka (female). The police are now cross‑referencing these names with existing missing persons and abduction reports. Some of the victims may have been released after ransom payments, while others may still be in captivity. The police have not provided further details on the fate of the two named victims, but the confession is expected to lead to the rescue of other captives still held by the cult network.
The Vikings Confraternity, to which Izunna belongs, is one of several secret cults that have evolved from campus‑based fraternities into organised criminal enterprises. The group is known for its violent initiation rites, its use of codenames and symbols, and its involvement in kidnapping, drug trafficking, and contract killings. In the South‑East, cult violence has often been intertwined with political activities, with rival cults serving as private militias for politicians competing for local government chairmanships and legislative seats. The revelation that Izunna had sponsors raises the uncomfortable possibility that the killings in Obosi were part of a broader power struggle.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed intensified efforts towards the arrest of other gang members and the alleged sponsors currently at large. The police have not disclosed whether any of the sponsors have already been identified or are under surveillance. However, the commissioner’s directive suggests that the police have actionable intelligence and are moving beyond the foot soldiers to target the financiers and masterminds. This approach, if successful, could significantly disrupt the cult’s operational capacity.
The arrest of Izunna has been met with cautious relief in Obosi. Residents, many of whom had been too frightened to speak publicly about the killings, have started to trickle in with additional information. Community leaders have called for the police to protect witnesses who may testify against the sponsors. In previous cases, witnesses have been intimidated or killed before trial, allowing powerful individuals to escape justice. The police have assured the public that all necessary measures will be taken to guarantee the safety of those who come forward.
The case also highlights the growing effectiveness of the Special Anti‑Cultism Unit, which was established to tackle the rising wave of cult‑related violence in Anambra. The unit operates with a degree of independence from regular police commands, allowing it to pursue intelligence‑led operations without political interference. In the past six months, the unit has arrested over 40 suspected cultists and recovered dozens of weapons. Izunna’s arrest is its most significant breakthrough to date.
The police have promised to keep the public informed of further developments, including the arrest of the sponsors and the rescue of any remaining kidnap victims. For the families of Somtochukwu Alfred, Udechukwu Izuchukwu, and Izuchukwu Obi, the confession brings a measure of closure but also a painful reminder of lives cut short. For the people of Obosi, the hope is that the arrest of a single executioner will lead to the dismantling of the entire killing machine. The police have the confession. Now they need the convictions.
As the investigation continues, the Anambra State Police Command has urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity. The command also warned that any individual or group found harbouring cultists or sponsors will face the full weight of the law. The message from CP Ikioye Orutugu is clear: the era of impunity in Obosi is over. But whether that promise will be kept depends on whether the sponsors, the men who pay for murder, are finally brought into the light.
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