Police arrest two vigilante members for allegedly torturing man to death in Abia

The Abia State Police Command has arrested two members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government area of the state for allegedly torturing a man to death.

Spokesperson of the command, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, Onyebuchi Ukandu, a vigilante commander, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, in a statement on Friday, December 22, 2023.

According to the PPRO, the victim, Alex Ukaegbu, who was in charge of a building site in Osisioma, was arrested by the vigilante men for having in his possession some iron rod.

It was gathered that the suspects chained the victim and demanded a sum of money to be paid before he was released but he died in their custody.

“At about 10 am on December 1, a complainant reported at Osisioma Division that on November 30 at about 9 am, he was informed on the phone that his elder brother, Alex Ukaegbu, who resides in the Tonimas area of Osisioma, who was also in charge of a building site same area was arrested by members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante Unit Osisioma at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods,” the PPRO stated.

“The vigilante allegedly chained him in their office and were negotiating his release for the sum of N50,000. Unfortunately, Alex Ukaegbu died while in their custody.”

Following this report, police operatives were dispatched to the scene for investigations and the lifeless body of Alex Ukaegbu was deposited at Alanwemadu Mortuary Osisioma for preservation.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.