Why we strangled INEC staff to death in Anambra – Suspects

Suspected killers of a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State, Mr Osita Duruoha have confessed they strangled the man to death.

The suspects, Nwobodo Samuel Obumneme (26) and Malachi Chinedu Uzorchukwu (28) said they killed Duruoha with the aim of dispossessing him of his shuttle bus.

Duruoha, before his death, was declared missing in September 2022 but his body was later found by the roadside in the Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

But confessing to the crime while being paraded with other 19 suspects, one of the suspects, Malachi Uzorchukwu said they pretended to hire the deceased for a trip but had ulterior motive of stealing his bus.

He said: “Obum, my lodge mate visited me on September 29 and asked me accompany him meet a particular man. Around 8pm, we stopped the deceased to carry us to Isuaniocha to go pick up our working tools. I sat at the back while Obum sat in front with the deceased.

“While leaving the house, Obum gave me a rope while he held the axe. On approaching a narrow road at Isuaniocha, I put the rope on his neck and struggled with him. In the process, Obum stepped out and assisted in tying his hand, leg and month until we got to the bush where we dumped the body.

“I agreed to join Obum because I’ve been looking for job and he promised to sell the bus and share the proceeds with me.”

Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng said the suspects were arrested in Enugu by detectives from State CID while the deceased shuttle bus had been recovered.

He added that the suspects have since confessed to the crime and would soon be charged.

He said: “A two-man gang of armed robbers who specialize in snatching shuttle buses around Ifite-Awka, pretended to be passengers and boarded a shuttle bus belonging and driven by an INEC Staff, Mr. Osita Duruoha ‘m’ 43yrs.

“The duo ordered the driver to stop and one of the suspects, Chinedu Malachi who was seated behind the driver used a rope to strangulate the driver from behind.

“Thereafter, they dumped the corpse of the deceased in a nearby bush and drove the shuttle bus to Enugu where they wanted to sell it.”