A serving DSS operative has reportedly escaped police detention in Ebonyi State months after being arrested for his alleged involvement in the violent attack of lawyer Chief Okeke Decency Onu. The incident, which left the attorney with severe head injuries including a fractured skull, occurred last April at a restaurant in Ishiagu during what appears to be a dispute over a land case currently before the courts.
Police authorities confirmed the suspect, identified as Anyim Chukwudi Christian of the DSS Cross River State Command, had been in custody since January following a prolonged manhunt after initially evading arrest. According to investigation documents, Chukwudi and his brother allegedly ambushed the lawyer during a business dinner, smashing beer bottles on his head while armed with a pistol. Medical reports show the victim required extensive hospitalization, with photos revealing deep lacerations to his head and ear.
The case has taken several troubling turns, with the suspect allegedly boasting of immunity due to his DSS affiliation and threatening to “make Chief Okeke disappear.” Despite formal requests from Ebonyi police, the secret service reportedly failed to cooperate in presenting the officer for interrogation during the initial investigation phase.
In a January 2025 letter to DSS headquarters, the police criminal investigation department sought verification of Chukwudi’s service status, noting the suspect’s claim of being a DSS operative during attempted murder investigations. The correspondence emphasized the need for inter-agency cooperation in the sensitive case.
The victim’s legal team has petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association over the incident, which highlights growing concerns about attacks on legal practitioners and alleged abuse of official immunity.
Police sources indicate a renewed manhunt is underway, while the legal community calls for urgent reforms to address what they describe as “dangerous precedents” of security personnel circumventing accountability.
