The Enugu State Police Command Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad has apprehended a 30-year-old male suspect, Nweke Chukwuemeka, over the murder of his neighbour’s 4-year-old daughter, Zinachukwu Ugwu.
In a post shared on the force social media handle, the incident was said to have occurred on August 18, 2024, approximately around 10:30 p.m. at Orba Road in Nsukka Local Government Area while the little was fast asleep.
The police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said after arriving at the scene of the ugly incident, the little girl was taken to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed she was dead and her remains had been deposited in the mortuary.
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Further revelation noted that before the incident occurred, the alleged suspect, who was a member of the Vikings Confraternity, attempted to attack his other neighbours, whom he faces resistance.
Meanwhile, he said in 2022, he committed a similar crime while he resided in Jos, Plateau State, after a cult clash, which led to the murder of a male rival cult member.
“He initially attempted to attack other neighbours who resisted him and escaped before going into the victim’s apartment, where he saw the helpless child sleeping, and used the knife to cut through her throat.”
“This was after the mother of the child had run out to take the other of her children to safety before coming back for the victim, “the statement revealed.
However, items recovered from the alleged killer were a knife, quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and an object suspected to be a charm.
The police force spokesman revealed that after assessing the alleged killer, he said he acted upon the influence of a mixture of hard drugs he consumed earlier, known as Indian hemp, methamphetamine locally known as “Mkpuru-mmiri”, and Action Bitters alcoholic drink he consumed earlier.
To this end, upon the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted.
To secure justice, the commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, condemned the attack and ordered the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the State CID Enugu to ensure that ongoing investigations are concluded and the case prosecuted in due record time.
He charged the resident, as he condoled with the victim’s family, to be security conscious and raise the alarm of a suspected misbehaviour to avoid a reoccurence of an evil incident.
