A 30-year-old man known only as Leberechi allegedly murdered an apprentice, a 25-year-old male, and hid the dismembered body in a refrigerator in his home in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Leberechi, a spare parts trader at the Mgbuka Spare Parts Market on the Onitsha-Owerri Road, is reported to have gone home with the apprentice after the market closed on Saturday under the premise of paying for some things he purchased from him.
According to witnesses at the market, the defendant allegedly killed the apprentice in his apartment, dismembered his body parts, and hid them in a refrigerator.
One of the witnesses, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The child was an apprentice at the market. The suspect purchased an item from him on Saturday and asked him to accompany him home to collect the money. The market was closed on Monday due to a sit-at-home day, but we did not see the boy on Tuesday.
“When confronted and interrogated over the whereabouts of the boy, the suspect displayed some suspicious moves. Following the interrogations, some people in the market took him for a search in his house, where they found the dismembered body parts of the victim in a refrigerator in his apartment.
“He was brought back to the market and was about to be lynched by a mob before the intervention of police officers. The police have also sealed the house where the incident took place.”
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the occurrence in a press statement issued on Wednesday, saying the suspect was later taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Ikenga said, “The Anambra State Police Command operatives attached to the Okpoko Division on September 2, 2025, rescued a suspect from an attempted jungle justice after he was alleged to have murdered a 25-year-old male and concealed the victim’s dismembered body inside a refrigerator at Okpoko.
“The suspect, later identified as Leberechi, other names unknown, and about 30 years of age, was already in an unconscious state before he was arrested.
“He was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention and is currently under armed guards to prevent escape.
“The operatives visited the scene of the murder and discovered the decomposed body parts of the victim hidden inside a refrigerator. The remains were subsequently evacuated to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
According to him, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed that the case be immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a full investigation and to ensure that justice is delivered in accordance with the law.
