Police in Enugu State have detained two men in connection with two separate beheading incidents that occurred on May 15 in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, the state command said on Sunday.
In a statement, police spokesman SP Daniel Ndukwe said officers responded to two distress calls within minutes of each other, both involving the use of cutlasses to kill victims in different communities.
In the first incident, Onyebuchi Anikwe, 40, allegedly beheaded his 60-year-old mother, Anikwe Felicia, at Nkporogwu Ukehe Community at about 3:10 p.m. Officers from Igbo-Etiti Division recovered the body and severed head, which were confirmed dead at a hospital and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.
Anikwe was rescued from an angry mob that had beaten him and taken to hospital for treatment before being detained. Investigations are ongoing.
In a separate case reported at 3:18 p.m., Joshua Eze allegedly killed his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her young daughter at Agu-Ekwegbe Community. Officers from the Command’s Distress Response Squad recovered the bodies, which were also confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary.
Eze was rescued from a mob in critical condition but was later confirmed dead in hospital. Police said preliminary findings indicate he buried the victims in a shallow grave alongside a dead white cock, suggesting possible ritual motives.
Enugu Commissioner of Police Mamman Giwa condemned the killings as “barbaric” and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead a comprehensive probe into both cases.
He urged residents to avoid jungle justice and to report suspects to the police or other lawful authorities.