The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to two separate murder incidents in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area involving the alleged killing of two women and a young girl in suspected ritual-related attacks.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the incidents occurred on May 15, 2026, in different communities within the area.
According to him, the first case happened at about 3:10 p.m. when operatives of the Igbo-Etiti Division responded to a distress call. A suspect, Onyebuchi Anikwe, allegedly attacked his 60-year-old mother, Felicia Anikwe, with a cutlass, leading to her death.
He said the victim’s body was recovered at the scene and later taken to a hospital where she was confirmed dead before being deposited in the mortuary. The suspect was reportedly rescued from an angry mob that had attempted to lynch him and was subsequently arrested and taken for medical treatment.
In a separate incident at about 3:18 p.m., operatives of the Distress Response Squad acted on intelligence from Agu-Ekwegbe community in the same local government area. A suspect, Joshua Eze, was accused of killing his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her young daughter.
Police said the bodies were recovered and taken for medical examination, where both victims were confirmed dead before being deposited in the mortuary. The suspect was also rescued from a mob in critical condition but later died in hospital while receiving treatment.
Preliminary investigations reportedly suggest that the victims were buried in a shallow grave, while officers also recovered a dead white cock at the scene, which investigators believe may point to possible ritual involvement.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, condemned the incidents, describing them as barbaric and unacceptable.
He directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation into both cases and urged residents to avoid jungle justice and report suspicious activities to lawful authorities.
