Stanley Ihedigbo
Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE), has demanded a thorough investigation of twin brothers allegedly killed by neighbour.
The 7 years old twin brothers , Chiagozie and Chidalu Agwunobi was allegedly killed by one, Onuwa Ajie, their neighbour of same village, Oko -Ogbele in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In their petition to Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command,
Executive Director, HURIDE, Chief Dede Uzor Uzor, demanded justice for the parents of the twin brothers, Mr. Olisa and Mrs. Chimebele Agwunobi of Oko-Ogbele Village, in Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State.
Narrating the incident, Uzor said that they were told, on the 5th day of March, 2020, Ajie, a neighbour of same village to Mr. and Mrs. Agwunobi, lured their two kids, out of their house, and in conspiracy with his murderous gang members, Nwanozie Uzo and Chukwudi Edemuzo kidnapped and brutally murdered them in cold blood.
According the statement, Ajie, Uzo, Edemuzo and their partners in crime conspired, kidnapped, and allegedly killed the twin brothers and must be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the weight of the law.
“We are informed that one of the murder suspects, Ajie had made attempts to whisk the twin brothers away from their school, Ekeanya Primary School, Oko-Ogbele, Delta State but was prevented by their class teacher, Miss Ogugua, who has since volunteered statement to the police command to that effect.
“This was prior to the eventual luring, kidnapping and gruesome allegedly murder the boys, by the suspects. The kids’ parents, who are farmers, were terrified to learn about the disappearance of their twin sons on their return from farm on the 5th day of March, 2020, who, together with other villagers, mounted intense search for their sons same day in the entire village and camps without success. This prompted a report of the matter of the missing twin boys by their parents at B Division of the Nigeria Police Force, Asaba the following day, 6th March, 2020.
“Following a sustained search for the twin boys for 4 consecutive days to no avail, one of the murder suspects, Uzo, called one of the villagers Osora Oputa on phone and informed him that the kids will be found respectively at Aguoma land and Uzo Iyi Oji both in Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State.
“With an elated spirit, the said Mr. Oputa called many villagers on phone and informed them of the suspect’s information. Sadly, the two locations disclosed by Uzo (one of the kidnap and murder suspects) were visited by Mr. and Mrs. Agwunobi, together with other villagers, and the police but found the decomposing bodies of their late twin sons horrendously mutilated, with their body parts to wit, hands, eyes, and tongues cut off and their hairs also shaved,” he stated.
Uzor further said that there was information, the kids body parts missing was taken to one native doctor in Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, who the suspects, including Nwanozie Uzo, identified.
“The late twin brothers’ respective dead bodies recovered by the police was deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ibuzo, Delta State. We are further informed that Uzo (one of the suspects) has since been arrested by the police who confessed to the atrocious crimes and currently remanded at the Correctional Centre, Asaba, Delta State.
“However, it is worthy of mention that neither the complainants, Mr. and Mrs. Agwunobi nor their Counsel were served any notice of arraignment of Uzo in court. None of them was also availed with the Charge Sheet or First Information Report for the trial of the suspect and his cohorts at large.
“While we commend the police for the arrest of the suspect, Uzo, we, however, express dismay at the seeming loss of momentum in the police investigation of the heinous crimes. Till date, the native doctor who hatched the crime and the other suspects at large, Ajie and Edemuzo, have not been arrested by the police and brought to justice for almost a year! It is our view that the arrest and investigation of the native doctor’s call log would yield significant lead in the arrest of the fleeing suspects,” he lamented.
The group called for the investigation of the call log of Ajie who use the following mobile phone numbers: 0802 947 8971 and 0913 862 7575 will also be germane in tracking and arresting the fleeing suspects.
“We dare say that the sacrosanctity and inviolability of the kids right to life guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) was egregiously and callously violated by the suspects deserving expedited, thorough and discreet investigation as well as arraignment and prosecution of all suspects against whom a prima facie case is established.
“As a civil society organisation dedicated to protecting and defending the human rights of all citizens of our country, especially the downtrodden, as well as upholding the Constitution, HURIDE Demands expedited and thorough investigation of this one murder too many, and arrest, arraignment and prosecution of all other suspects in a court of competent jurisdiction within 14 Days of your receipt of this petition.
“Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to have been done in this matter,” he appealed.
