Elderly Man Murdered After Praying for Election Candidate

An elderly man in Osege village, Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo, in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been killed days after he prayed for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) House of Representatives candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency, Chief Tochukwu Ogalagu, ahead of next year's general election.

The victim, Chief Onwe Ubochi, also known as Amos Onwe Ubochi, reportedly led other elders in prayer and endorsed the APGA candidates during a community consultation on August 17, 2026.

He was reportedly trekking home alone afterwards when he was ambushed.

According to accounts, he was waylaid by unknown assailants who dragged his body to a stream far from the road leading to his compound and dumped it there. His mouth was reportedly mutilated.

His family searched for him through the night before his body was discovered the next day, still fully clothed and in a sitting position inside the stream.

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed it has opened an investigation into the killing. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, the command described the events leading to the discovery of the body.

“The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Amos Onwe Ubochi, who left his residence on August 17, 2026, but did not return.

“On August 18, 2026, the Command received information that the lifeless body of Amos Onwe Ubochi was discovered along a bush path within the community. Upon receiving the report, police operatives visited the scene and evacuated the body to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he was confirmed dead.

“The Command has commenced a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death and identify those responsible. The Command assures members of the public that every necessary step will be taken to get to the root of the incident, while urging anyone with useful information that could assist the investigation to come forward,” the command said.

Reacting to the killing, Ogalagu described it as a painful and direct fulfilment of threats made by political rivals in the federal constituency, insisting that those behind the act would eventually be exposed.

“My dear brothers and sisters, it is with a deep sense of personal loss that I, hereby, condemn the gruesome murder of Elder Onwe Ubochi of Osege village, Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo, Ohaukwu LGA, Ebonyi State by yet to be identified assailants who waylaid him on his way home, killed him, and dragged his body to a stream located far away from the road to his compound where they dumped his body inside the stream.

“This elderly man was the person who led the other elders in a prayer session and the endorsement of the APGA candidates on 17th August, 2026. He was hale and hearty during the consultation and was captured on camera performing the role of an elder during the consultation.

“After the consultation, the old man was trekking home alone when he was waylaid, abducted, murdered, and dumped inside a stream. His family searched for him throughout the night but only found his body in a sitting position inside a stream located far away from the road leading to his compound. He was fully clothed when he was discovered in the stream.

“The police hierarchy has been duly notified of the incident for necessary investigations, and the corpse has been deposited in the mortuary. I want to assure the APGA supporters that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation of this dastardly murder and the person or persons involved will surely face the law.

“The killing of Elder Onwe Ubochi is clearly a fulfilment of the threats issued by expiring political actors in Ebony/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency and the blood of the innocent old man will surely speak against the perpetrators of this evil and their sponsors,” he said.

Ogalagu also called on APGA supporters in the federal constituency to stay calm and remain steadfast in the face of the tragedy.

“I assure all of you that no amount of threats, intimidation, political conspiracy or shedding of innocent blood will be enough to stop an idea whose time has come for fulfilment. I deeply sympathise with the immediate family and assure them of our prayers and limitless support during these difficult times. The entire APGA family in Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency mourn with them and pray that God will grant peaceful repose to the soul of Elder Onwe Ubochi,” he said.