The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two additional suspects linked to the gruesome beheading of a 69-year-old woman, Mrs. Obianuju Akubi, at Umuleri in 2024.Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement that preliminary investigations indicated the murder was connected to a lingering land dispute at Ogwu Nzu.According to the report, the victim had testified in favour of one of the parties involved in the land ownership case before she was allegedly killed.
The suspects were said to have used her head for ritual purposes to fortify themselves in their bid to claim the disputed land.Ikenga confirmed that two other suspects — Mr. Joseph Udezuo, also known as Boss, and Chukwuemeka Nworah, also known as Odumodu — were apprehended by local security stakeholders and would be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the barbaric act and commended the Nigerian Military, the Anambra East security stakeholders, and the Chairman of Anambra East Local Government, Hon. Sir Chinweze Ifeanyichukwu, for their collaboration and timely intelligence that led to the arrests.The Commissioner reiterated that land disputes are civil matters that should be resolved through the courts rather than through violence, stressing that resorting to self-help often results in avoidable loss of lives and property.He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state and urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies.
