There was pandemonium along the Uke/Ideani Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday after the lifeless body of a pregnant woman was found hanging from a cashew tree near the roadside.
Although the circumstances of her death are unknown, it is believed that the woman committed suicide or was murdered on Monday night, and her body was recovered on Tuesday morning.
When our correspondent arrived at the scene in Anambra state on Tuesday, police from the Ogidi Police Division had already evacuated and put the body in the mortuary after being warned by local people.
A local Anambra state resident, named Ogbanna Uche, told our correspondent that no one recognised the deceased before police arrived to remove the body from a tree.
Uche said, “I own a shop along the road. We woke up this morning to see the lifeless body hanging from the cashew tree. We couldn’t immediately identify the deceased due to the position of the face.
“The incident might have occurred late at night because when people left for their various homes, there was no such sight. It could be a case of either suspected murder or suicide.”
Another resident, identified as Chinwe, said the nature of the incident suggested either suicide or murder, adding,
“Incidents like this are rare in this area. That’s why people were shocked. No one could identify the deceased before the police arrived to evacuate the body.”
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the event in a press statement issued on Tuesday.
Ikenga stated that the Commissioner of Police in Anambra had ordered a thorough investigation into the situation.
He also stated that the police were working with local neighbours to identify individuals guilty of the suspected murder.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on 6 May 2025, called on stakeholders and community leaders in Idemili North LGA to assist with information to help identify those behind the suspected murder of a pregnant woman found hanging from a cashew tree along the Uke/Ideani Road.
“The CP described the incident as unfortunate and a stark example of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’, and he ordered a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
“To this end, the Command urges members of the public to help identify the deceased, as police operatives from Ogidi Division have recovered the body and deposited it in the mortuary.
“Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”
