The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a young man accused of murdering his mother, Mrs. Charity Orji, and his sister, Miss Ukamaka Orji, and burying them in a shallow grave in their state backyard.
The suspect, Somadina Orji of Igboariam in Anambra State, is said to have committed the crime on Monday, December 4, 2023, at Umuagu Inyi in Enugu State’s Oji River Local Government Area.
The late Charity, a native of Inyi but married in Igboariam, Anambra State, had been living in her family house with her children for several years, according to various reports and videos of the incident.
Unfortunately, her son, who allegedly deals in hard drugs and has been feuding with her for some time, murdered her.
Mr. Ben Obi, a community leader in Inyi, told journalists that the problems began weeks ago when the suspect had a disagreement with the suspect’s younger brother.
He went on to say that the suspect had planned to hit him (the younger brother) before his mother intervened and reported the incident to the kingsmen, asking them to come and chase him out of the house because he wanted to kill the younger brother.
Meanwhile, the younger sister had been missing for two weeks before he encountered the mother’s problem.
However, the community leader went on to explain that the mother went to Akpugoeze for a condolence visit, and when she returned in the afternoon, her son, Somadina, murdered her and buried her in a shallow grave in their backyard.
He claimed that when the younger brother returned to look for the mother, he became suspicious and raised an alarm.
“When the villagers gathered at the compound upon interrogation, Somadina confessed that he had killed the mother.”
He also admitted to killing his younger sister a few weeks ago. Barrister Ben also stated that when the police were summoned, the mother and sister’s remains were exhumed and deposited at the mortuary, and the suspect was apprehended.
Ben also explained that Charity sold fufu to feed her family until her death.
He urged the government to come to their aid in order to avoid similar problems in the future.
Mr. Ejike Tasie, the coordinating president general in Oji River, also condemned the act, saying the use of hard drugs in the Inyi Community is alarming, and he urged the anti-drug agency in Oji River to assist them in controlling the use of these drugs in their various communities in the local government.
Confirming the occurrence the state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, told the newsmen on Sunday that the suspect had been arrested and that an investigation was still ongoing.
Ndukwe stated that he would be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation was completed.
“The suspect has been apprehended, and the case is being investigated.” Once the police investigations are completed, the suspect will be prosecuted.”
