From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
A man identified as Uchenna Iloke has confessed that he was responsible for raping a woman, Chinyere Eze, to death in Ukawu community, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Late Eze was last month found dead inside a bush behind Ukaba Development Centre in the community. It was gathered that the mother of three children, who hailed from Ndufu Amankpuma Ukawu, had gone to tend to her groundnut farm when the suspect, who was hiding inside the bush, pounced on her, dragged her into the bush and raped her to death.
The incident had caused serious outrage and condemnation all over the state. Town Union President of Ukawu community, Mr. James Agala, said the suspect recently surfaced and confessed to the crime. He said the suspect made the confession during a prayer summit organised by the community to tackle evil occurrences in the area.
“During the summit, we declared heavy curses on the killer of the woman and declared that the killer would never have peace in his life.
“Surprisingly, while the prayer was still going on, the suspect moved from his hideout in his Okuzu village to Ndufu Amankpuma village where the victim hailed from, to confess to the woman’s family, that he was the killer of the woman and to ask for forgiveness. He was grabbed by the youths and brought to us.
“We interrogated him, and he said he was feeling serious fire all over his body, and he had no option but to come and confess his crime. “The youths wanted to take him, but we quickly invited the DPO of Abaomge police station who came and took him to Abakaliki. This happened on 17th of June, 2023.”
Agala, however, disclosed that further investigation showed that the suspect was under the influence of a psychotropic drug known as Mkpuru Mmiri or methamphetamine. Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Command, Onome Onovewakpoyeya, when contacted, said the matter was yet to be brought to her attention.