THE Police Command in Enugu State has confirmed two separate gruesome murder incidents that occurred on May 15 in different communities within Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of the state.
The confirmation was given in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday May 17 in Enugu, the Enugu state capital.
Ndukwe said that the incidents involved the alleged murder of a mother by her son, as well as the alleged murder of a woman and her child by the woman’s brother.
He noted that In the first incident, operatives attached to Igbo-Etiti Division, at 3:10p.m., responded to a report alleging that Onyebuchi Anikwe,40, used a cutlass to behead his 60-year-old mother, Anikwe Felicia, at Nkporogwu Ukehe Community.
“The corpse and severed head of the deceased were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead, after which the remains were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
“The suspect was subsequently rescued and detained from an angry mob that had severely beaten him and was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“Full-scale investigation into the incident has commenced,” he said.
Ndukwe said that in a separate incident reported the same day at about 3:18p.m., operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad stationed at Ekwegbe Junction along the Ugwuagu/Opi/Nsukka Road responded to a distress call.
“The distress call alleging that one Joshua Eze similarly used a cutlass to sever the heads of his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her little daughter at Agu-Ekwegbe Community in the same Igbo-Etiti LGA
“The remains of the deceased victims were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead.
“Their corpses were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy,” he said.
The spokesman said that the suspect was also rescued from an angry mob in a critical condition and taken to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed him dead.
He said, “His corpse was equally deposited in the mortuary.
“Preliminary investigations further revealed that after allegedly murdering the victims, he buried their remains in a shallow grave alongside a dead white cock, suggesting possible ritual intentions.”
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had condemned the barbaric acts.
The commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to immediately commence comprehensive investigations to ascertain circumstances surrounding both incidents and ensure necessary investigative actions.
He urged members of the public to refrain from taking laws into their hands by resorting to jungle justice, regardless of the provocation.
The state police boss advised prompt report of criminal suspects to the police or other lawful authorities for appropriate action.
