A 30-year-old man has been taken into custody by the Enugu State Police command for the alleged murder of a four-year-old girl, who was his neighbor’s daughter, while she was sleeping.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed that the offence was committef at Nsukka.
Police from the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad discovered the lifeless body of the girl, which was subsequently taken to the hospital where medical professionals confirmed her death. Her body has since been deposited in the mortuary for further examination.
The police also recovered several items from the suspect, including a knife believed to have been used in the crime, quantities of what is suspected to be cannabis, and an object thought to be a charm.
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Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who hails from Umuagu-Ozalla in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, had been living in the same compound as the victim’s family.
It was reported that he initially attempted to attack other neighbors before entering the victim’s apartment, where he found the child sleeping and tragically slit her throat. The child’s mother, who had hurriedly taken the other children to safety, returned too late to save her.
The suspect has confessed to committing the crime, attributing his actions to the influence of hemp, methamphetamine (locally known as Mkpuru-mmiri) and an alcoholic beverage called Action Bitters that he had consumed earlier. He also admitted to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and disclosed that he had previously been involved in a cult-related killing in 2022 while living in Jos, Plateau State.
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu, condemned the act as barbaric and assured the public that the police would ensure justice is served. He expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the case.
The Commissioner also urged citizens to be vigilant about the behavior of those living around them to help prevent such tragic events.
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