Man beheads three years old boy inside church, sucks his blood

Uchenna Inya, ABAKALIKI

IGP

A man, Christian Akam, in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has allegedly beheaded a three-year old inside a church and sucked his blood.

The incident occurred in Ugbenyim, Umuhuali community. It was gathered that Akam and the mother of the slain boy, Mrs Ukwa, from the same village, in Onunwankwo Local Government Area, coincidentally met at a prayer ministry.

The head of the local vigilante group in the area, Jude Nwankpu, told our correspondent that Akam returned with his brother from Nnewi in Anambra State where they reside. The brother then took him to pay a visit to the woman in charge of the prayer ministry.

Nwankpu recounted: "When Akam got to the prayer ministry, he saw a young lady from his village, Mrs Ukwa, with her three year old son. Akam and the woman exchanged pleasantries. Both of them came to see the woman in charge of the Ministry, but she had gone to Onitsha in Anambra State. They both decided to wait until she returns. While they were still waiting, Mrs Ukwa left to fetch water to bath her child, having waited for a long time. She left the child with a young girl. When Akam realised there was no elderly person watching, he took a machete, snatched the child from the girl and beheaded him.”

Nwankpu said that it was the loud cry from the girl who supposed to be minding the child that alerted people that all was not well.

"What surprised most of us was that Christian picked up the head of the boy and began to suck the blood in the presence of everyone,” said Nwankpu.

He said the accused was later overpowered through the combined efforts of the village vigilante members and other villagers.

A family member of Christian, who didn’t want his name mentioned, disclosed that the suspect was already exhibiting signs of madness, which was actually why his brother took to the prayer ministry.

The suspect was later handed over to Ezilo Police Division. The police were said to have also arrested the parents of the suspect.

The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Loveth Odah, said she was not aware of the matter. She, however, promised to contact Ezilo Police Station to get the facts of the case.