According to the statement on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, during the parade of the suspects, the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, who was in charge of a building site in Osisioma, was arrested by the vigilante men for having in his possession some iron rod.
It was gathered that the suspects chained the victim and demanded a sum of money to be paid before he was 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.”
Following this report, police operatives were 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 have been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
In a related development, one 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.
“Photographs of the deceased were taken and the corpse was evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
It was reported that during investigations by the state CID the fleeing suspect was identified and tracked to his hiding place at Ogada II village in Obubara Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He was arrested in collaboration with the Cross River State Police Command and confessed to the crime. Investigation has been concluded by the State CID and the suspect will be charged in court.
