The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed how they arrested an Anambra man accused of murdering his mother, Mrs. Charity Orji, along with his sister, Miss Ukamaka Orji in Enugu state.
The accused allegedly buried the bodies in a shallow grave located in their backyard.
The suspect, identified as Somadina Orji from Igboariam in Anambra State, committed this heinous act on Monday, December 4, 2023, in Umuagu Inyi, situated in the Oji River Local Government area of Enugu State.
According to multiple reports and video evidence of the incident, the deceased, Charity, originally hailed from Inyi but was married in Igboariam, Anambra State. She had been residing in her family home with her children for several years.
Tragically, her son, who reportedly deals in illicit drug activities and had been having ongoing conflicts with her regarding his behavior, made the fateful decision to take her life.
Mr. Ben Obi, a community leader in Inyi, shared with journalists that the issues began weeks ago when the suspect had a dispute with his younger brother. The suspect allegedly intended to harm him, but his mother intervened and reported the matter to the elders in the community, seeking their assistance in removing him from the household due to his violent tendencies towards his sibling.
Meanwhile, the younger sibling had been missing for a fortnight before he encountered a problem involving their mother.
However, Ben further clarified that the mother had gone to pay respects in Akpugoeze, and upon her return in the afternoon, her son, Somadina, ended her life and buried her in a shallow grave in their backyard.
He mentioned that when the younger brother returned and started searching for their mother, he became suspicious and raised an alarm.
“When the villagers gathered at the compound and questioned him, Somadina confessed to killing his own mother.”
He also admitted to having killed his younger sister a few weeks earlier. Barrister Ben also stated that when the police were called, they unearthed the remains of both the mother and sister and took them to the mortuary, while the suspect was apprehended.
Ben also explained that Charity, until her demise, was a hardworking woman who sold fufu to provide for her family.
Expressing concern over the rampant drug abuse in the community, Ben lamented the absence of governing bodies such as the traditional ruler, town union, and president-general, which could have assisted the government in curbing the use of hard drugs and potentially preventing this tragedy.
He urged the government to intervene and prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.
Expressing his disapproval of the act, Mr. Ejike Tasie, the coordinating president-general in Oji River, emphasized that the alarming use of illegal substances in the Inyi Community necessitates the assistance of the anti-drug agency in Oji River. He called on them to take action and address the widespread drug use in their respective communities within the local government.
On Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the occurrence of the incident and stated that the suspect has been apprehended. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Ndukwe further added that once the investigation is concluded, the suspect will be brought before a court of law to face prosecution.
“The suspect has been arrested, and the case is currently under investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the suspect will be prosecuted accordingly.”
