Palpable fear, anguish and heightened tension has literally taken over Nsukka metropolis following the gruesome killing of a renowned All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain.
Prince Ikechukwu Oloto popularly known as “Okanga Moo” was allegedly murdered in his residence in Odenigbo Nsukka in Nsukka metropolis.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the ugly incident took place in the late hours of Thursday.
Our reporter equally gathered that the alleged assailants invaded his massive residence, shot him several times.
Our source further revealed that “when they saw that bullets could not penetrate his body, these hoodlums resorted to using machete, cutting him into pieces after beheading him.”
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the incident has thrown the University town into serious mourning mood even as several political and social activities have been literally grounded.
Police confirm the incident
Confirming the incident, the Enugu state police command has expressed shock over the alleged killing.
According to the command, the politician was found in a pool of blood with deep suspected machete cuts to his head and stomach.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, when contacted by newsmen confirmed the killing in a subsequent response to inquiries.
“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder of Ikechukwu Oloto, male, about 53 years old, in Nsukka,” Ndukwe said.
Explaining further, Ndukwe said, “The Police received a report on September 17, 2026, at about 5:45 p.m., that he had been found in a pool of blood in his residence. Operatives promptly responded and found him with deep suspected machete cuts to his head and stomach.
“He was rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the attending doctor. His remains were deposited at a mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while a manhunt has been launched for the assailant(s).”
Oloto, who hailed from the Nsukka Local Government Area, was reportedly attacked inside his residence at Odenigbo, Nsukka, on Thursday evening.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that Oloto was a long-standing member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State.
He has served variously as State Youth Leader and later as State Secretary.
He was a founding member of the party in the state and had been an active player in its internal politics for over a decade.
However, Oloto’s political woes came following the defection of Governor Peter Mbah from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC in October 2025.
Mbah’s entry into the party triggered a leadership crisis that saw the dissolution of the elected State Working Committee led by Ugochukwu Agballah.
In its place, a seven-member Caretaker Committee headed by former State Chairman Ben Nwoye was mandated to run the party’s affairs. The development effectively sidelined old party members, including Oloto, who had helped build the APC in Enugu State when it was in opposition.
In February 2026, a local government congress of the APC in Enugu sparked a fresh rift when longstanding members accused the new leadership of hijacking the process.
The aggrieved members alleged that the outcome of the congress violated a 60-40 power-sharing formula earlier directed by Governor Mbah among political blocs that recently aligned.
Under the arrangement, 26 ward executive positions were to be shared, with 17 allocated to defectors from the PDP, while the old APC bloc and Labour Party defectors were to share the remaining nine. At the local government level, out of 28 executive committee positions, PDP members were to occupy 17, leaving 11 for the old APC and LP members.
However, several members claimed the directive was flouted in most local government areas, alleging that PDP members not only retained principal offices but also took additional positions meant for other blocs.
The killing of Oloto comes amid an increasingly tense political atmosphere in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with reports of politically related threats and intimidation.
Six days before Oloto’s killing, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress were shot by thugs during a political gathering in Obuofia, Nkanu West Local Government Area.
The NDC subsequently released names of eight party members who sustained gunshot injuries, including a ward councillor, Onovo Donald Ekene, who was shot in the head, neck, leg and hand.
It was gathered that the attack occurred during the party’s state-wide monthly ward meeting in Ihuani Awkunanaw, the hometown of the NDC governorship candidate, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa.
Consequent upon that, the NDC has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other agencies, calling for an independent investigation into the alleged armed attack. The party alleged that the attack was led by one Mr. Odogwu, whom it identified as a Senior Special Assistant to the Nkanu West Local Government Chairman, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo.
The Enugu State chapter of the APC denied allegations linking the party leadership and the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to the violence, describing the allegations as “misleading, unsubstantiated and politically motivated.”
The killing also comes barely a week before the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission is scheduled to conduct local government elections in the state on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Recall also that sometime in June 2026, the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election was marred by widespread violence and voter intimidation allegations.
The PDP candidate, Nestor Ezeme, accused the APC of orchestrating violence and voter suppression, alleging that violence erupted at Ofu Ogu Polling Unit in Ovoko Ward, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, where his party chairman was attacked
In the meantime, with the latest alleged killing of Oloto, many people in the state are of the opinion that the state is gradually descending into unprecedented political uncertainty and dark era of political assassination.
