Man Arrested For Murder Of Four-Year-Old In Enugu

Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, Nweke Chukwuemeka, in connection with the murder of a four-year-old girl, Zinachukwu Ugwu, in Nsukka Local Government Area of the State.

The tragic incident which occurred on August 18, 2024, has left the community in shock.

Confirming his arrest on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, the police received a distress call around 10:30 p.m., reporting the horrifying event.

Officers from the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad in Nsukka swiftly responded, arriving at the scene of the crime located on Orba Road.

The suspect, Nweke Chukwuemeka, was arrested at the scene and found in possession of a knife and other incriminating items, including quantities of Indian hemp and an object suspected to be a charm.

Ndukwe confirmed that the lifeless body of the young victim, Zinachukwu, was immediately taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead and later deposited in a mortuary.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Chukwuemeka, who hails from Umuagu-Ozalla in the Nkanu West Local Government Area, resided in the same compound as the victim’s family.

On the night of the murder, he reportedly attempted to attack other neighbors before breaking into the apartment where the child was sleeping and slashing her throat.

The police report detailed that the child’s mother had previously fled with her other children to safety, only to return and discover the tragic fate of Zinachukwu.

Chukwuemeka, upon his arrest, confessed to the crime, claiming he acted alone but was under the influence of drugs, including Indian hemp, methamphetamine (locally known as “Mkpuru-mmiri”), and alcohol.

He also admitted to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and confessed to having committed a previous murder during a cult clash in Jos, Plateau State, in 2022.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, condemned the act as barbaric and extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving family of the victim.

He assured them that the police would do everything within their power to ensure that justice is served.

Uzuegbu directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to expedite the investigation and ensure that the suspect is swiftly prosecuted.

The Commissioner also called on the public to remain vigilant and monitor the behavior of those in their communities to prevent such tragedies in the future.