The Abia State Police Command has arrested two men, Onyebuchi Ukandu and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in the state’s Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, for allegedly torturing a man to death.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, during the parade of suspects, the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, who was in command of a building site in Osisioma, was apprehended by the vigilante men for having some pipe rods in his hands.
The statement by the PRO reads, “At about 10 am on December 1, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30 at about 9 am, he was informed on the phone that his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, who resides in the Tonimas area of Osisioma, who was also in charge of a building site in the same area, was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit Osisioma on December 29 at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods.
“The vigilante allegedly chained him in their office and was negotiating his release for the sum of N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody.”
Following this complaint, police officers were summoned to the area to conduct investigations, and Alex Ukaegbu’s lifeless body was put at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma for preservation.
According to the statement, “at about 5 p.m. on December 4, the police received a report that an unidentified person allegedly killed a female friend he lodged with at the Chrismary Hotel, situated at No. 82 Clifford Road, Aba, and ran away unnoticed.
“On receipt of the report, Divisional Police Officer Ndiegoro, in the company of other personnel, visited the scene.
“The deceased was found lying dead on the hotel bed, with marks of violence seen on her body. A handbag and four pairs of new female shoes were also found in the hotel room.
“Photographs of the deceased were taken, and the corpse was evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
According to reports, the fleeing suspect was identified and tracked to his hiding spot at Ogada II village in Cross River State’s Obubara Local Government Area during investigations by the state CID.
In conjunction with the Cross River State Police Command, he was apprehended and confessed to the crime. The State CID has completed its investigation, and the suspect will be charged in court.
