By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command said it had taken four suspects into custody over two separate incidents that have recently sparked a chain of reactions across the state, involving the alleged murder and secret burial of a young woman and the brutal abuse of a 10-year-old boy who reportedly sustained severe burns after being tortured with molten plastic.
The Command disclosed that the arrests followed timely intelligence and information supplied by vigilant residents, whose cooperation, it said, has continued to aid security agencies in exposing criminal activities and bringing offenders to justice.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday, the first suspect, identified as 33-year-old Ifechukwu Okechukwu, is currently under investigation over the alleged murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend and the subsequent secret burial of her body in a shallow grave.
The case, which recently gained traction on social media following reports of the exhumation of a corpse in Nkpor, was reportedly uncovered after concerned members of the public alerted security operatives.
The Police said detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department had taken over the matter and commenced extensive investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted.
In a separate development, three persons are also in police custody over the alleged abuse of a 10-year-old boy identified as Chiziterem, whose photographs and videos showing horrifying injuries and fresh burns on different parts of his body circulated widely on social media over the weekend, provoking public condemnation.
The suspects were identified by the Police as Chukwudi Chukwuyere, 40; Chisom Chukwuyere, 30; and 16-year-old Arum Goodluck.
According to the Command, preliminary investigations revealed that the victim suffered serious physical abuse at James Obinna Street, Odume Layout Isiowulu, off Minaj Junction in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, where he was residing with the suspects.
It was gathered that Mrs. Chisom Chukwuyere, allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, recounting how she used burning plastic to inflict the injuries on the child.
The Police added that the victim has since been rescued and is receiving necessary medical attention and other forms of support, while investigators continue to gather evidence to facilitate diligent prosecution of the suspects.
Before the arrests, reports indicated that the child had allegedly been subjected to prolonged abuse by his guardian.
Accounts from residents suggested that the child was allegedly assaulted repeatedly, sometimes in the presence of the woman’s husband, and was at some point reportedly tied and confined behind the house where the abuse allegedly continued over time.
The revelations generated emotional reactions after the child’s parents, natives of Umuofiagu-Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, publicly narrated how they entrusted their son to the guardian in the hope of securing a better future for him, only to later discover the alleged inhumane treatment he suffered.
The parents also expressed much regrets that the woman accused of abusing their child hails from the same community as their family, saying they never imagined such betrayal could occur.
Reacting to the incidents, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, expressed appreciation to residents whose vigilance and prompt information assisted security operatives in uncovering the crimes.
He reassured the public of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, enforcing the law without fear or favour, and ensuring that perpetrators of criminal acts are brought to justice.
The Commissioner also urged members of the public to sustain their collaboration with the Police and other security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements and criminal activities through the Command’s emergency lines or the nearest police station.
Watch the videos and more photos from the scenes below:
