It was gathered the duo was lynched and burnt by a mob on Monday for allegedly being involved in the killing and removal of private parts of a little girl in the community.
The PUNCH gathered that the girl, Eze Nkemdirim, aged 10, was the daughter of late Igwe Philip Ugwu of Umuidu. She went missing a few days ago and was later discovered dead with her eyes and her private parts removed.
Family sources said the girl was initially declared missing and in less than 24 hours, she was found dead with her body badly mutilated.
“Her eyes were plucked out, her private parts were cut off and taken away by the suspected ritualists,” a source said.
“Angered by the development, the elders and youths in the community went out of their way in search of what happened to the little girl.
“Along the line, it was discovered that some members of the community has a hand in the killing of the little girl; two persons were arrested by the member of the neighborhood watch, but the mob overpowered them from handing them over to the police and set the suspects ablaze,” the source said.
Unfortunately, the two suspects identified as Ifeanyi, a Native Doctor, and Chidera, who were both from the community were subsequently accused of the murder of the girl.
When they were apprehended by the youths of the community, they allegedly confessed to having killed the girl and removed the missing parts for money rituals.
“They confessed to the crime and pleaded for forgiveness but the mob was adamant and they lynched them and set them ablaze,” a community source said.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident.
In a text message in reaction to the burning of suspects, Ndukwe said, “Investigation has been launched to fish out those responsible for the alleged mobbing and setting ablaze of one Agbo Dera (m) and Ifeanyi Ugwu (m), at Ede-Oballa Nsukka, in the morning hours of today, July 4, 2022, on the allegation of the duo being responsible for the murder of one little Miss Eze Nkemdirim aged 10, for ritual purposes.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the victim was initially reported missing on June 28, 2022, at about 1 pm, but her decomposing body was found in a bush in the community on July 2, 2022, which led to the action of the mob.
“Meanwhile, members of the community have once again been called upon to keep supporting the police to properly investigate and set the ground for the dispensation of justice in criminal cases, rather than resort to self-help of this nature, which attracts dire legal consequences.”
