The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a yet-to-be-identified man, for allegedly killing a minor, a four-year-old girl, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, News About Nigeria reports.
This was disclosed by the Enugu State Police spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that the 30-year-old suspect murdered the little girl while she was sleeping.
Ndukwe stated that the police squad had received a distress call on August 18 and rushed to the scene.
He added that the girl was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty after she was rushed to the hospital, adding that her remains had been deposited in the morgue.
The spokesman further said that the knife used by the suspect to commit the crime, quantities of weeds suspected to be hemp, and an object suspected to be a charm were recovered from him.
He stated that the suspect also confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and that in 2022 while residing in Jos, Plateau, he was involved in a cult clash during which he murdered a male member of the rival cult group.
He noted that the suspect would be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations were concluded.
”On August 18, police operatives serving in the command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad hastened to a compound on Orba Road in Nsukka Local Government Area, upon receiving a distress call alleging the murder of a four-year-old girl.
“The lifeless body of the child was taken to the hospital; she was confirmed dead by a doctor, and her remains have been deposited in the mortuary,” he said.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect hails from Umuagu-Ozalla in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State but resides in the compound with the child’s parents and others.
“He initially attempted to attack other neighbours before going into the victim’s apartment, where he saw the helpless child sleeping.
“He used the knife to slit her throat. The mother of the child had run out to take the other children to safety before coming back for the victim.
“The suspect confessed to the crime, claiming that he acted alone but under the influence of hemp, methamphetamine (locally known as “Mkpuru-mmiri”), and Action Bitters alcoholic drink he consumed earlier,” he stated.