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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command has uncovered the decomposing body of 36-year-old cashier of the Halim 633 Synergy Cooking Gas Station, Toronto/Road Safety by MCC Road, Owerri, Miss Joy Nwachukwu after she was declared missing by her relatives.
The family of the deceased was said to have reported her disappearance to the police on October 24, 2022, when she did not return from work and after fruitless search for her.
A petition written by one Pastor Mrs Precious Abara to the State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Barde, and later referred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) for discreet investigation unravelled the mystery behind Nwachukwu’s disappearance.
A statement by the police spokesperson, Michael Abattam, further explained the incident thus: “The investigating team, on the 26/10/2022, at about 1200 hours, left the Police Headquarters to the scene of crime on investigation, armed with forensic equipment.
“On arrival, preliminary investigation revealed that Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu, who doubles as the secretary/cashier of the gas plant, takes the weekly money sales to the bank on Tuesday’s and manages the day-to-day running of the company because the owner who resides abroad entrusted the business in her care.
“The unfolding revelations gave the team of detectives an insight into the puzzle surrounding the disappearance of the lady and a thorough search was made in the premises of the entire gas station for clues.
“Unfortunately, nothing incriminating was discovered, hence, they move to the back of the cooking gas station. In the course of searching, a blood stain was observed on the wall of the fence, which made the team to suspect fowl play, hence, they carefully and professionally traced the blood stain to an area where dried grasses were packed deceptively with two heavy stones placed on them to create an impression that nothing has been done around the area for long time.
“But, the operatives were not fooled. They removed the heavy stones, the grasses and gently dug out the earth, alas, an offensive stench oozed out. Excitedly, they dug further only to discover it was a shallow grave; inside was a shovel and a cutlass and the decomposing body of Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu.”
Meanwhile, the body has been exhumed and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) morgue, Owerri, according to Abattam, just as two suspects have been arrested and the police on the trail of other fleeing suspects
