Suspect on the run after allegedly killing his brother over witchcraft claim

Suspect on the run after allegedly killing his brother over witchcraft claim

A middle-aged man, Mr. Nwalozie Chiwendu, is on the run after allegedly killing his elder brother, Mr. Chidiebere Isaiah, during a violent dispute in Umunwacha, Ofeh community, Omuma Local Government Area.

The incident, which occurred around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, was said to have followed accusations by the suspect that the deceased was practising witchcraft and using it to frustrate his business progress.

Residents told reporters that the victim sustained multiple injuries before he was rushed to hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

The suspect reportedly fled the community immediately after the attack.
Confirming the incident, the Youth President of Ofeh community, Mr. Chinonso Favour Chima, described the development as tragic and unsettling.

He said, “Yesterday within the evening hours, I got a call from some of my community persons telling me of the sad incident that happened between two brothers of the same compound.”

Chima added, “I cannot tell what happened, but the story is that the younger one carried cutlass and butchered his elder brother like meat and ran away, before the persons that were around in the community could come.”

According to him, efforts were immediately made to save the victim. “So, after I received the call, I directed them to quickly rush him to the hospital and I was running down from town to see how we can attend to the matter,” he said.

Chima explained that the deceased died while being moved between hospitals.

“On my way, they took him to the first hospital, but they could not attend to him, before they could reach another hospital, the man gave up,” he stated.

He noted that the matter was promptly reported to security agencies.

“Because it is a murder case, I told them we cannot deposit him in the mortuary just like that. We then reported it to the nearest Police Division within us here, notifying them of what happened and Police have taken note of it,” Chima said.

He further disclosed that the community has launched a manhunt for the suspect.

“The boy that committed the crime is on the run, we are looking for him. Community has declared a search for him everywhere. We are searching for him to get him so that he can face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Chima added that calm has been restored in the area. “But for now, we have deposited the deceased in the mortuary. I have also tried to address the community and ask everybody to stay calm, we should not take laws into our hands… For now, everything is calm.”

The incident was reported at the Nigeria Police Force Division in Eberi, Omuma LGA.
Confirming the case, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the suspect.

She said, “Information at my disposal indicates that the suspect used cutlass to machete the victim to death after accusing him (victim) of witchcraft that made him (suspect) not to prosper.”

According to her, “The corpse has been retrieved, deposited in the Mortuary and a manhunt has been launched for the suspect with a view to arresting and bringing him to face the law in compliance to the directive of Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.”