The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four individuals, including a 21-year-old woman, in connection with the horrific burning death of a 74-year-old woman in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area.
According to reports, the suspects were about to bury the victim’s charred remains after committing the crime when police officers intervened. The tragedy occurred on Saturday, and police recovered the victim’s burnt body, her wheelchair, and a casket the following day.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, confirmed the arrest and provided further details in a statement released on Sunday.
“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,” Ikenga said.
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“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 revealed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Ifeanyi Igwe, the prime suspect, who remains on the run. The victim’s body has been sent to the morgue for autopsy, and an investigation is underway 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.
In a separate development, the Anti-Cult Unit of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a 25-year-old suspected cultist, Maduka Okoye, in Enugwu Ukwu on Saturday following credible intelligence.
Ikenga said that three expended cartridges were recovered from a shooting scene in the Ezichike Community of Abagana, and Okoye admitted to being a member of the ‘Baggars Confraternity.’
“The suspect, Maduka Okoye, confessed to being a member of the ‘Baggars Confraternity’ and admitted he was drinking at a beer parlour with a friend when they came under attack by members of the rival ‘Axe Men Confraternity.’ Police swiftly restored calm in the area, and Okoye is currently assisting the operatives in identifying and apprehending members of both rival cult groups, especially those directly involved in the shooting,” Ikenga added.
The police reassured residents that they remain committed to ensuring safety and order in the state, urging citizens to cooperate with law enforcement by providing useful information for ongoing investigations.
