Law enforcement detains individuals in connection with suspected cult murders in Enugu

The Enugu State Police command has confirmed the arrest of suspects connected to two separate murder cases that occurred in the Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, sparking widespread shock among residents of the affected communities.

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According to Police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe, these incidents took place on Friday, May 15, in two different communities, prompting immediate police intervention and investigation, as both cases allegedly involved killings by close family members.

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On Sunday, Ndukwe issued a statement in Enugu, disclosing that the first incident involved Onyebuchi Anikwe, 40, who allegedly attacked his 60-year-old mother, Felicia Anikwe, with a cutlass at about 3:10 p.m.

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Responding to the incident, operatives of the Igbo-Etiti Division found the victim lifeless, secured the scene, and recovered her remains, which were then taken to a hospital for confirmation of death and subsequent preservation in the mortuary.

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Officers also rescued the suspect, Onyebuchi Anikwe, from an angry mob that had severely assaulted him, and he was subsequently arrested, detained, and given urgent medical treatment.

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In the second incident, which occurred at about 3:18 p.m., operatives of the Distress Response Squad responded to a report from the Agu-Ekwegbe Community within the same local government area, alleging that Joshua Eze had killed his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her little daughter.

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Upon responding to the report, officers recovered the bodies of the victims and moved them to a hospital for medical examination, where doctors confirmed them dead, and their remains were deposited in the mortuary.

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The suspect, Joshua Eze, was also rescued from an angry mob in critical condition, but he later died in hospital while receiving emergency treatment.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that Joshua Eze buried the victims in a shallow grave, and a dead white cock was recovered from the scene, indicating possible ritual motives.

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The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, has condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric, and directed detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct comprehensive investigations into both incidents.

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Commissioner Giwa also urged residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands and instead report criminal suspects through lawful channels.