Vigilante Members Arrested for Allegedly Chaining, Torturing Man to Death

The Nigerian Police Abia State Command have arrested two men, Onyebuchi Ukandu and Emmanuel Onyebuenyi, members of the Mbutu/Umuojima Vigilante in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state for allegedly torturing a man to death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, revealed this in a statement on Friday while parading the suspects.

The victim, Alex Ukaegbu, was in charge of a building site in Osisioma.

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

The statement by the PRO said, “At about 10:00 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.

“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”, the PPRO said.