MOTHER OF 2 CALLS FOR JUSTICE AS FRIEND WANTS TO USE HER FOR RITUAL KILLING IN ANAMBRA COMMUNITY
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
A 25–year–old mother of two, Uchendu Uchechukwu has survived an attempt by her lover to use her for alleged money ritual in Umuona Village, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The victim, who said she is an orphan and the fourth child in a family of eight is calling on security operatives and government to help in ensuring that justice is served in the case between her and the suspect, who is now in police net.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the suspect whose name was given as Nonso, attempted to slit the lady’s throat after digging a four fit grave at the back of his compound to bury her alive with her two children.
Radio Nigeria also gathered that the lady has two children, a five year old son and a three year old daughter, who did not come from the same father.
Investigation reveled that, Uchendu Uchechukwu had been fending for herself since the death of her parents forced her to discontinue with her education at senior secondary school level.
She does menial jobs like picking palm fruits where she makes between five hundred and seven hundred naira daily to feed herself and the two children.
In 2021, she met Nonso, a young man and self acclaimed native doctor, who promised to marry her.
This informed Uchendu’s frequent visits to him in the last one year.
On that fateful day, Uchendu recalled that the suspect called her to come around with her children for a surprise package.
Without any suspicion, she accepted the offer after which Nonso asked his friend to convey them on motorcycle.
On arrival, she was asked to close her eyes while Nonso ties her face with a white handkerchief in anticipation of a surprise package.
She said at that point, the sharp knife was used to slit her throat forcing her to struggle for survival.
The victim explained that immediately, the suspect dragged her to the already dug grave, pushed her in, using a big stone to force her to remain there while he went to bring shovel to bury her with the kids alive.
It was at that point that she started shouting for help, causing the elder sister of the suspect, who had gone to bed, to run out and the woman called other people to rescue her.
The mob apprehended the suspect, stripped and paraded him before handing him over to security agents but his motorcyclist friend escaped.
The victim appealed to government and security agents to serve justice to the suspect even as she expressed readiness to go back to her nylon production business if she could be assisted to repair the machines that packed up before she began engaging menial jobs for survival.
After he was handed over to the police, the suspect was arraigned through the support of the Anambra State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo.
In the meantime, the Ministry through her Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) response team has made arrangements for the victim and her two children who are recuperating from the incident they described as a nightmare.
When the matter was called up at the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Court, sitting in Awka and presided over by a Magistrate, Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, the suspect was remanded in Correctional Centre custody for attempted murder.
The charge was read to the defendant but no plea was taken.
The court remanded the defendant in the Correctional Center and ordered that the police transmit the original Case file to the office of the Attorney General of the state.
It also ordered the police to effect the arrest of the fleeing accomplice for arraignment.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
