The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the gruesome murder of two women and a child in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State.
The two separate gruesome murder incidents occurred at about 3:10 pm and 3:18 pm respectively on Friday, 15th May 2026, in Nkporogwu Ukehe and Agu-Ekwegbe, both communities in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area; the first incident was a son who beheaded his mother, while the second incident was a brother who beheaded his sister and niece.
In a statement signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirming the murders, further revealed that one of the cases suggests possible ritual intentions
“In the first incident, Police Operatives attached to the Igbo-Etiti Division, at about 3:10 p.m., responded to a report alleging that one Anikwe Onyebuchi (male, aged about 40) used a cutlass to behead and murder his 60-year-old mother, Anikwe Felicia, at Nkporogwu Ukehe Community.”
“The corpse and severed head of the deceased were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her death, after which the remains were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
“The suspect was subsequently rescued and rearrested from an angry mob that had severely beaten him and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Full-scale investigation into the incident has commenced,” SP Ndukwe stated.
“In a separate incident reported the same day at about 3:18 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad stationed at Ekwegbe Junction along the Ugwuagu/Opi/Nsukka Road responded to a distress call alleging that one Joshua Eze (male) similarly used a cutlass to sever the heads of his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her little daughter, Favor Eze, at Agu-Ekwegbe Community in the same Igbo-Etiti LGA.”
“The remains of the deceased victims were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead, after which the corpses were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
“The suspect was also rescued from an angry mob in a critical condition and taken to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed him dead. His corpse was equally deposited in the mortuary.”
“Preliminary investigations further revealed that after allegedly murdering the victims, he buried their remains in a shallow grave alongside a dead white cock, suggesting possible ritual intentions.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, calls on members of the public to refrain from jungle justice regardless of the provocation and to promptly report criminal suspects to the Police or other lawful authorities for appropriate action.
CP Giwa strongly condemned the barbaric acts and ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to immediately commence comprehensive investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both incidents and ensure necessary investigative actions.
