The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended four suspects, including a 21-year-old woman, for allegedly burning a 74-year-old wheelchair-bound woman to death in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Chronicle NG gathered that the suspects, after committing the heinous act, procured a casket and were about to bury the victim’s charred remains when security operatives intervened.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, with police operatives recovering the victim’s burnt remains, her wheelchair, and the casket on Sunday.
This was confirmed by Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, SP, in a statement issued on Sunday.
Ikenga said, “The Anambra State Police operatives serving at Abagana Divisional Police Headquarters on 26/1/2024 at about 9 a.m. arrested four suspects, including a 21-year-old lady, Chinenye Ekwenugo, from Ifitedunu, over the burning of a 74-year-old woman in a wheelchair at Abagana.
“The three other suspects are Uzochukwu Okeke (47), Fidel Anayo (60), and Ikenna Anene (54), all from Abagana.
“The operatives also recovered the burnt remains of the deceased, her wheelchair, and a casket. During interrogation, the suspect Chinenye confessed that her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Igwe, who is currently at large, and three others set the victim ablaze and arranged a casket to bury her before the police intervened.”
Ikenga also disclosed that efforts are underway to apprehend the prime suspect, Ifeanyi Igwe, who is currently on the run. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy, while an investigation is ongoing to determine the motive behind the crime.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has called for calm and ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation. Further updates will be provided,” Ikenga stated.
