Police arrest man for allegedly murdering teenager

Policemen attached to the Ogidi Divisional Police have arrested Ifeanyi Okpoko for allegedly hacking 16-year-old Chidera Ezeanya to death in Eziowelle, Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra State.

Okpoko is believed to have tied up Ezeanya and hung him in a manual crane. Angry over the alleged murder of the victim, youths in the area were said to have stormed.

The youths in the area were said to have stormed Okpoko’s residence, threatening to set the house ablaze. The youths accused him of killing Ezeanya and depositing his corpse at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital Morgue, Ogidi.

Some people in the community claimed that Ezeanya was playing with his mates when Okpoko called him. Many thought he wanted to send the boy on an errand.

One of the residents, who doesn’t want his name mentioned, said: “When it was dusk, and Ezeanya didn’t return, his parents became worried. They were told by his mates that Okpoko sent him on an errand. The parents immediately proceeded to Okpoko's house where they saw the boy dead, with hands tied and hung in a manual crane. The parents raised the alarm, attracting sympathizers. Okpoko quickly untied the corpse, bundled it into his car and made straight to Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital Morgue, where he deposited the corpse."

It was when the corpse was allegedly discovered that the youths threatened to set Okpoko’s house on fire. They were, however, stopped by elders in the community. The murder of Ezeanya was described as an abomination and palm fronds were placed around the house of the suspect.

Okpoko is currently being held at Ogidi Police Station after being arrested by the police. He had, however, denied killing the victim. Rather, he described the late teenager as a thief.
The suspect was quoted as saying: “Chidera came to my house around 2am on the fateful day to steal, but as I woke up, he scaled the fence to their house."

Okpoko admitted going to the deceased’s house, to drag him out. He took the boy to his house, tied and hung him to the manual crane. He was alleged to have told the deceased that he suspected that he was the person that he saw in his house the previous night.  

He added: “I’m ready to take police to my neighbour, whom I suspected may have bludgeoned him to death for stealing.”

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Ogidi Police Station, Mr. Mark Ijarafu, confirming the incident, said the suspect had been arrested. He said that investigation into the case had already commenced.

Ijarafu said that he was shocked that such a crime happened and nobody to report it immediately.

He added: "The suspect even deposited the corpse at the morgue without first reporting to the police. The mortuary attendants also have a case to answer."