Egiji Atigwe, son of Hon. David Atigwe, former Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, has been implicated in supplying firearms to a notorious gang of kidnappers and armed robbers operating within the Nsukka zone of Enugu State. This shocking revelation came from a suspect identified as Emzor, during an interrogation following his arrest for criminal activities in Igboeze North Local Government Area and surrounding regions.

In a video released to the public, Emzor, who was arrested by the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch, confessed to law enforcement that Egiji provided firearms, including a double-barrelled shotgun, which the gang used in their operations. According to the suspect, Egiji is currently on the run.

During the four-minute video, Emzor, seen kneeling and handcuffed, detailed how Egiji not only supplied the weapons but also distributed the proceeds from their illegal activities. Emzor disclosed that following a recent kidnapping, he received N35,000, a share from the ransom, under the supervision of Egiji, who allegedly handled all financial transactions for the group.

Efforts to contact the Enugu State Police Command for an official statement have been unsuccessful, as the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls or messages.

Sources close to the investigation have revealed that Egiji’s family is attempting to influence the ongoing probe. Allegedly, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Urama, a relative of the Atigwe family, visited the police division in Enugu-Ezike, calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.

This development follows a turbulent time for the Atigwe family. Just last week, Egiji’s uncle, Hon. Simon Atigwe, lost his seat in the House of Representatives to Labour Party’s Dennis Agbo after a Court of Appeal ruling in a rerun election for Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency. This scandal adds further strain to the family’s public image, intensifying the scrutiny around them. While the investigation unfolds, there is growing concern over the potential political implications of the case, particularly given the involvement of prominent figures from the region.