Summary: Rivers State Police arrest suspect in murder of 42-year-old Shedrack Chukwem in Etche LGA, exhume body from shallow grave. Four other suspects still at large as investigation continues.
The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended a suspect connected to the brutal murder of 42-year-old Shedrack Chukwem in Etche Local Government Area, bringing some measure of hope for justice to the grieving family.
The suspect, 29-year-old Robinson Uche from Umuechem in Etche LGA, was arrested following intensive investigation by operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emuohia Annex. According to the police spokesperson, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrest represents a major breakthrough in a case that has shocked the local community.
The Chilling Confession
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, CSP Iringe-Koko revealed that Robinson Uche allegedly led a gang of five men to commit the heinous crime. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly made a full confession about his active participation in the killing.
According to his statement, the tragic incident occurred on December 17, 2025, when he and four accomplices—identified as Prince (also known as “Onyia-Army”), Achor, Gift Okere (known as “Nnaye”), and another unidentified individual—were allegedly hired by Chief Elijah Okere to bring the deceased to his palace.
The group tracked down Shedrack Chukwem while he was attending a family meeting. What was supposed to be a simple “arrest” quickly turned deadly when their attempt failed. In the ensuing confrontation, the group shot the 42-year-old man from Umuemeshie Community, Chokota, in Igbo-Etche, resulting in his death.
Body Buried in Shallow Grave
In a desperate attempt to cover their tracks, the suspects transported Chukwem’s body to a bush area at Ekerre-Ugbor, where they hurriedly buried him in a shallow grave, hoping the crime would never be discovered.
However, following Robinson Uche’s confession after his arrest on March 6, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m., he led police operatives to the exact location where the body was hidden. The remains were successfully exhumed from the shallow grave and taken to the Military Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
Justice in Progress
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, PSC, mnips, has assured the public that the command remains fully committed to ensuring justice is served in this matter. Police operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend the other four suspects who are currently on the run.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges with violent crime in parts of Rivers State, but also demonstrates the dedication of law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to crack the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
As investigations continue, many questions remain unanswered—particularly concerning the alleged role of Chief Elijah Okere in ordering the operation that led to Shedrack Chukwem’s death. The police have promised to provide further updates as more details emerge.
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