Police in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria, have arrested one Nweke Chukwuemeka for the gruesome murder of a 4-year-old girl, Zinachukwu Ugwu, while she was sleeping.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the incident occurred on August 18, 2024, in a compound on Orba Road in Nsukka LGA.
The 30-year-old suspect, a native of Umuagu-Ozalla in Nkanu West LGA, lived in the same compound as the child’s family.
Ndukwe narrated that Police operatives from the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad responded to a distress call at 10.30pm, reporting the murder.
“The lifeless body of the child was taken to the hospital, confirmed dead, and deposited in the mortuary. Additionally, the knife used by the suspect to commit the crime, quantities of weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, and an object suspected to be a charm were recovered from him.
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.
Further revealed is that the suspect confessed to the crime, claiming that he acted alone but under the influence of hard drugs including, Methamphetamine, locally known as “Mkpuru-mmiri”, and Action Bitters alcoholic drink he consumed earlier.
He also confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and that in 2022, while residing in Jos, Plateau State, he was involved in a cult clash during which he murdered a male member of the rival cult group”, Ndukwe stated.
Police say the suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
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