In a shocking incident that has left the residents of Abagana, Anambra State, in disbelief, four individuals have been arrested for allegedly setting a 74-year-old woman on fire. The gruesome act, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, has sparked outrage and raised disturbing questions about the rising levels of violence in the region.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the suspects, including a 21-year-old woman, Chinyere Ekwenugo, are accused of conspiring with others to murder the elderly victim, whose identity is yet to be fully revealed. The victim, who was reportedly confined to a wheelchair, was burned alive in what authorities suspect was a premeditated act of cruelty.
The police were alerted to the crime when operatives at Abagana Divisional Police Headquarters received a tip-off from concerned residents. The operatives rushed to the scene and discovered the burnt remains of the victim, a wheelchair, and even a casket that had been brought by the suspects with the intention of burying the woman.
“The suspects brought a casket to bury the victim, but before they could proceed with their plan, our operatives intervened and rescued the situation,” stated SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Anambra State. He further disclosed that during the interrogation of one of the arrested suspects, Chinyere Ekwenugo, the young woman confessed that she had conspired with her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Igwe, who remains at large, and three other individuals to carry out the brutal act.
Ekwenugo allegedly admitted that Igwe, a man now being pursued by the police, was the mastermind behind the crime. “It was Igwe and the others who set the victim on fire,” Ekwenugo reportedly told the police.
The three other suspects arrested alongside Ekwenugo were identified as Uzochukwu Okeke, 47; Fidel Anayo, 60; and Ikenna Anene, 54. All three are from the Abagana area, the same locality as Ekwenugo.
The police have not disclosed the specific motive behind the attack, but the investigation is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Nnaghe Itam, has called for calm in the community while assuring that a thorough probe will be conducted. “This is a heartless crime, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served,” Itam said, urging the public to cooperate with the authorities in tracking down the fugitive, Ifeanyi Igwe.
The body of the deceased has been moved to a morgue for an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. Police have emphasized that further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime is still underway.
A Horrific Discovery
The crime scene, located in the quiet town of Abagana, revealed a chilling series of events. The police recovered not only the remains of the elderly woman but also the items the suspects had prepared for her burial. The presence of a casket at the scene of such a horrifying act underscored the cold-blooded nature of the crime.
“It was clear from the outset that the perpetrators had a plan in place. They intended to burn the victim and bury her, perhaps to cover their tracks,” stated a police officer who was part of the investigative team. The suspects are currently in custody, with the police vowing to follow the trail of evidence wherever it leads.
Meanwhile, the hunt for the main suspect, Ifeanyi Igwe, has intensified. Authorities have issued a public appeal for anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward. “We will leave no stone unturned in bringing Igwe to justice,” Ikenga assured the press. The police are also focusing on uncovering any additional details that could explain why the victim was targeted in such a horrific manner.
Tensions in the Community
The news of the brutal killing has sent shockwaves through the Abagana community. Residents have expressed their disbelief and anger over the crime, with many calling for swift justice. Some have pointed to the growing issues of violence in the area, including disputes between rival cult groups.
Earlier in the same day, police operatives in the Enugwu Ukwu area of Anambra State had made a separate arrest, capturing Maduka Okoye, a 25-year-old man from Abagana. Okoye was allegedly involved in a violent altercation between two cult factions, the Axe Men and the Baggars Confraternity, in which firearms were discharged. Authorities believe that the rising tide of cult-related violence in the region may be contributing to an overall breakdown of law and order.
“We are deeply concerned by the increase in violent acts in our community,” said a local leader, who preferred to remain anonymous. “We urge the authorities to do more to ensure the safety of our citizens and bring those responsible for this horrific crime to justice.”
Police Investigations Continue
In a statement issued to the media, SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that the police had initiated a full-scale investigation into the burning incident. “Our primary goal is to identify any additional individuals involved in this act and ensure that the suspects face the full extent of the law,” he said.
Ikenga also noted that the police were working closely with local intelligence units to track down Igwe and any other individuals associated with the crime. “We are committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that peace is restored in Abagana,” he added.
