By Oluwatosin Maliki
Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have apprehended two suspects; Onyebuchi Ukandu, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, who are members of a vigilante group, over the alleged murder of a man identified as Alex Ukaegbu.
Quest Times gathered that the deceased was tortured to death by the two men of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia state.
The unfortunate incident was revealed in a statement, on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka.
During the parade of the suspects at the command, it was disclosed that the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, was said to be in charge of a building site in Osisioma. He was reportedly arrested by the vigilante men for having in his possession some pipe rods.
It was learnt that the suspects chained the victim and demanded a sum of money to be paid before he would be released, but he died in their custody.
The statement by the PRO said, “At about 10 am on December 1, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30 at about 9 am, he was informed on the phone that his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, who resides in the Tonimas area of Osisioma, who was also in charge of a building site same area was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit Osisioma on December 29 at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods.”
“The vigilante allegedly chained him in their office and were negotiating his release for the sum of N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody,” she added.
Following the report, officers were immediately dispatched to the scene for investigations and the lifeless body of Alex Ukaegbu was deposited at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma for preservation.
The vigilante commander, Ukandu Onyebuchi, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi were arrested, and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
In a similar development, a man identified as Timothy Ekem, 29, has also been arrested for killing one 30-year-old woman, Fortune Ohiero, whom he lodged in a hotel in Aba.
According to the statement, “at about 5 pm on December 4, the police received a report that an unidentified person allegedly killed a female friend he lodged with at Chrismary Hotel, situated at No. 82 Clifford Road Aba and ran away unnoticed.”
“On receipt of the report, Divisional Police Officer, Ndiegoro in the company of other personnel visited the scene.”
“The deceased was found lying dead on the hotel bed with marks of violence seen on her body. A handbag and four pairs of new female shoes were also found in the hotel room,” the statement noted.
“Photographs of the deceased were taken and the corpse was evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
It was said that during investigations by the state CID, the identity of the fleeing suspect was discovered and tracked to his hiding place at Ogada II village in Obubara Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Consequently, he was apprehended in collaboration with the Cross River State Police Command and confessed to the crime. The investigation has been concluded by the State CID and the suspect will be charged in court.