Two persons accused of ritual killing by an irate mob in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State have been rescued by men of the state police command.
The survivors, a man and a woman, were paraded naked on Wednesday and were forced to carry the corpses of the victims they were accused of killing in a wheelbarrow around the area.
A large crowd, consisting of members of the community, were seen following and flogging the suspects.
NIGERIACRIME gathered through a viral video that the suspected ritualists allegedly killed three persons for money ritual purpose, before they were caught by the villagers.
The Anambra State police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, while reacting to the development on Thursday told newsmen that the incident was not connected to ritual killing but a case of murder.
The police spokesperson said the reason the mob accused and humiliated the suspects was because they were seen at the scene where the murder took place.
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Ikenga said the man and the woman were immediately rescued by men of the command when the police got the information and added that the deceased were deposited in a morgue.
He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, while reacting to the incident sued for calm and ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for a comprehensive investigation.
He said, “The Command operatives by 10 am Wednesday, rescued two victims who were about to be lynched by an angry mob at the Total Junction, Ihiala LGA.
“To set the records straight, it is not a case of ritual killing, but a pure incident of murder. Preliminary information revealed that the two victims, a man and a woman, who were humiliated and paraded as shown in the video by the angry mob were erroneously accused by the mob as they were seen at the scene where the murder took place.
“Also, a suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder while the victims (man and woman) are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. The deceased has been deposited in a morgue. Further developments shall be communicated, please.”