Two Vigilante Members In Police Net For Allegedly Torturing Man To Death For Stealing Iron Rod

By Ranti Thomas

Two men- Onyebuchi Ukandu and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, both members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government area of the state are currently cooling –off in one of the cells of the Abia State Police Command for allegedly torturing a man to death.

This was contained  in a statement issued on Friday by the state Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, during the parade of the suspects, 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.

According to the statement,  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 on December 29 at about 5 pm with some pieces of iron rods.

“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,” the state police PRO said.

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 vigilante commander, Ukandu Onyebuchi, and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi have been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.