Police Operatives from the Nsukka Sector of Enugu State Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad have arrested Nweke Chukwuemeka, a 30-year-old man, for the alleged murder of his neighbor’s 4-year-old daughter.
The suspect was apprehended on August 18, 2024, at approximately 10:30 PM in a compound on Orba Road in Nsukka Local Government Area, following the brutal murder of a young girl named Zinachukwu Ugwu, who was killed in cold blood while she slept.
According to a statement from the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, “the child’s lifeless body was taken to a hospital where she was confirmed dead and subsequently deposited in the mortuary. The knife used in the crime, along with quantities of suspected Indian hemp and an object believed to be a charm, were recovered from the suspect.
Ndukwe further revealed that “preliminary investigations indicate the suspect is from Umuagu-Ozalla in Nkanu West Local Government Area but resides in the same compound as the child’s parents. Initially, he attempted to assault other neighbors who resisted him, allowing him to escape before entering the victim’s apartment. There, he found the defenseless child asleep and used the knife to cut her throat after her mother had temporarily left to ensure the safety of her other children before returning for the victim.
“It was also disclosed that the suspect confessed to the crime, asserting that he acted alone but was under the influence of Indian hemp, methamphetamine (locally known as “Mkpuru-mmiri”), and Action Bitters, all of which he had consumed earlier. He admitted to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and recounted a previous incident in 2022 while living in Jos, Plateau State, where he was involved in a cult clash that resulted in the murder of a male member of a rival cult.”
Ndukwe quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+), who described the act as “barbaric and unthinkable.” The Commissioner extended condolences to the victim’s parents, siblings, and friends, assuring them that every effort would be made to secure justice for the innocent child.
He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID Enugu to “ensure that the ongoing investigations are completed and the case is prosecuted promptly.
“Moreover, the CP urged citizens to be aware of the behavioral patterns of their neighbors to prevent senseless incidents of this nature.
Ndukwe stated that the suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted once the investigations are concluded.
