A wave of horror has gripped communities in Enugu State following the confirmation by the Police Command of the arrest of suspects linked to two separate, gruesome murder cases in the Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area. These disturbing incidents, both occurring last Friday, May 15, allegedly involve close family members and hint at possible ritualistic motives, sending shockwaves through the usually serene rural settings.
SP Daniel Ndukwe, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State Command, elaborated on these developments in a statement issued on Sunday in Enugu. He noted that the twin tragedies unfolded on Friday, May 15, in distinct communities within Igbo-Etiti, prompting an immediate and decisive response from law enforcement to the shocking events.
According to Mr. Ndukwe, the first incident unfolded around 3:10 p.m., when operatives attached to the Igbo-Etiti Division received an urgent report. Information indicated that 40-year-old Onyebuchi Anikwe had allegedly attacked his 60-year-old mother, Mrs. Felicia Anikwe, with a cutlass. Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless body of the victim. They swiftly secured the scene, recovered her remains, and transported them to a hospital where her death was officially confirmed before the body was moved to the mortuary for preservation. In a critical turn, police also rescued Onyebuchi Anikwe from a furious mob that had severely brutalised him in an act of what is commonly known as jungle justice. The suspect was subsequently arrested, detained, and immediately taken for urgent medical attention due to his injuries.
Barely moments later, at approximately 3:18 p.m., a second harrowing incident was reported. Operatives of the Distress Response Squad, acting on intelligence from the Agu-Ekwegbe Community, also within Igbo-Etiti LGA, were dispatched to investigate. The report alleged that Joshua Eze was responsible for the killing of his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her young daughter. Officers recovered the bodies of the two victims and conveyed them to the hospital, where medical examination confirmed their demise. Their remains were also deposited in the mortuary.
Similar to the first case, Joshua Eze was also rescued from an enraged crowd. However, his condition was critical, and despite emergency medical treatment in the hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries and died. Preliminary investigations into this particular incident are particularly unsettling, as initial findings suggest that Eze had buried his victims in a shallow grave. Furthermore, the recovery of a dead white cock from the scene by investigators strongly points towards a potential ritualistic motive, a discovery that has heightened public alarm regarding these heinous acts in a society grappling with the pervasive issue of ritual killings.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Giwa, has vehemently condemned these killings, describing them as utterly barbaric and a grave affront to human dignity. He has since directed detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to initiate comprehensive and diligent investigations into both incidents to unravel the full circumstances and ensure justice.
CP Giwa used the opportunity to reiterate the police’s firm stance against jungle justice, urging residents to exercise restraint and channel all criminal reports and suspicions through lawful means rather than resorting to self-help. “Residents must avoid jungle justice and report criminal suspects through lawful channels,” the commissioner emphasised, highlighting the importance of due process in a civil society and the potential for innocent lives to be lost or justice perverted through mob action.
As investigations continue, the Enugu State Police Command assures the public of its unwavering commitment to bringing all perpetrators to book and maintaining peace and order within the state, even as communities grapple with the shock of these unprecedented acts of violence within families.
Originally sourced from Premium Times. This article has been rewritten for our readers.
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