Two members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government area of Abia State have been arrested for allegedly torturing a man to death.
The suspects, identified as Onyebuchi Ukandu and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, were apprehended by men of the Abia State Police Command, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka, revealed.
The police image maker told newsmen that the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, was in charge of a building site in Osisioma before his unlikely death.
The vigilante members were said to have chained Ukaegbu, demanding that his family members bribe them before he is freed. Unfortunately, he died in custody.
The statement by the PRO said, “At about 10 am on December 1, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30 at about 9 am, he was informed on the phone that his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, who resides in the Tonimas area of Osisioma, who was also in charge of a building site same area was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit Osisioma on December 29 at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods.
“The vigilante allegedly chained him in their office and were negotiating his release for the sum of N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody.
“Following this report, police operatives were dispatched to the scene for investigations and the lifeless body of Alex Ukaegbu was deposited at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma for preservation.”
“The vigilante commander, Ukandu Onyebuchi, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi have been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation,” the PPRO said.
Meanwhile, the Command also said it has arrested 60 suspected criminals, comprising 58 males and two females, from October to December 2023.
The command’s PPRO who briefed the press on behalf of the commissioner, said the command devised and implemented effective administrative and operational initiatives that yielded remarkable results.
According to ASP Chinaka, the command achieved significant milestones in curtailing incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping, and vandalism of government property during the period, with several suspects arrested and various exhibits recovered.
Some of the exhibits include firearms of different specifications, 10 vehicles, eight tricycles, railway slippers, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs, among others.
According to the police PRO, some kidnapped victims and trafficked children were safely rescued with stolen vehicles and tricycles recovered during the period in review.
She further said that a good number of cases were charged to various courts of law, out of which 12 were successfully prosecuted and convictions gained.
The cases involved rape, defilement, stealing, malicious damage, assault, threat of violence, burglary, and murder.
ASP Chinaka also reeled out the registration numbers of the tricycles recovered as UMA 27VQ,
HAF 152QG, ACH 919QT, RLU 713QH, BLF 254QG, and UML 710QJ. One tricycle, however, was without a number plate.
Among the vehicles recovered, two had registration numbers: LSR 906FJ and CYS 7898.
Some of the suspects arrested for various crimes were paraded at the Abia State Police Headquarters. Also displayed were different sizes of guns and tricycles recovered from them.