The Abia State Police Command has apprehended two individuals, Onyebuchi Ukandu and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, associated with the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government area. They stand accused of torturing a man, Alex Ukaegbu, to death.
According to a statement released on Friday by Maureen Chinaka, the state Police Public Relations Officer, the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, who oversaw a construction site in Osisioma, was arrested by the vigilante members for being in possession of iron rods. Allegedly, the suspects chained the victim and demanded a ransom for his release, but he tragically died while in their custody.
The statement from the PRO read, “On December 1, at about 10 am, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30, at about 9 am, his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, in charge of a building site in Tonimas area of Osisioma, was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit. The vigilante reportedly chained him in their office, negotiating his release for N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody.”
In response to the report, police operatives conducted investigations, and the deceased’s body was deposited at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma. The vigilante commander, Ukandu Onyebuchi, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi were subsequently arrested, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiry.
In a separate incident, Timothy Ekem, 29, was arrested for the alleged murder of 30-year-old Fortune Ohiero, whom he had lodged in a hotel in Aba. According to the statement, on December 4 at about 5 pm, the police received a report of an unidentified person killing a female friend at Chrismary Hotel in Aba.
Upon investigation, the deceased was found in the hotel room with visible signs of violence on her body, and her belongings were also discovered. The suspect, Timothy Ekem, fled the scene but was later identified and tracked to his hiding place in Ogada II village, Obubara Local Government Area of Cross River State. He confessed to the crime, and the State CID has concluded its investigation. The suspect will face charges in court.