By Evelyn Usman

June 1, 2012, will forever remain indelible in the memory of the Anyinye family, in Idumu-Ugbe quarters, Ogboobi viillage, Onitcha Ugbo , Delta State, following the murder of a member of their family, Ifechukwude, 32.

Ifechukwu, as he fondly called, had reportedly, returned from the farm that fateful day, where he did a  job for one of the villagers. He was said to be going to take his bath when a group of youths arrived.  The youths, as gathered, descended on Ifechukwu and started beating him, following the claim that he slept with a mad woman.

As he was being dragged out of his compound, those present begged for his release but to no avail. Unknown to them, Ifechukwu  was embarking on a  journey of no return. This was later confirmed following the discovery of the remains of the victim in the bush.

Although one of the youths alleged to have been among the assailants has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command, while others are on the run, the Anyinye family has appealed to the state Police Command and the Inspector-General of Police to carry out a thorough  investigation that would not only get the accused arrested but that would also ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpet.

Spokesman for the Anyinye family, Mr  Robert Anyinye, said before his brother was killed, he was allegedly first taken to the palace of the town’s traditional ruler who allegedly ordered that the man be taken away.

Robert narrated: “The incident occurred at about 10.30 a.m. when a group of  Onicha Ugbo youths, led by their leader, stormed our brother’s residence. Ifechukwude was dragged to the palace where the traditional ruler ordered the youths to take him away. The youths were eight in number.

They took my brother into the bush, beat him mercilessly and inflicted matchet cuts all over him , like a common criminal. He was also forced to drink a concoction which nobody, as I speak, can tell what it was. “While they were torturing my brother, one of our kinsmen who was returning from the farm sighted them and pleaded on my brother’s behalf. But they would not listen. Rather, they warned him to leave the scene in his own interest”

At this juncture, he kept mute and shook his head intermittently. After a while, he continued: “ Our kinsman rushed to inform us consequent upon which we mobilised some youths with the hope of rescuing my brother. But when we got to the spot, we met him naked , with blood all over him.

The man that witnessed it all, thereafter, rushed to the Obi’s palace , where he met him discussing with the youths. He told the Obi he was there to find out if indeed he sent the boys to kill Ifechukwude. But the Obi allegedly  told him to calm down, asking if he did not know that my brother was a criminal.“

The murder of the Ifechukwude reportedly sparked off a protest by youths from his quarters who, as gathered, removed the corpse from the bush and dumped it in the apartment of one o f the alleged assailants.

The youths, according to Roberts, “ also stormed the palace demanding that his killers be released to them and threatened to set the palace ablaze if their demand was not met. But the traditional ruler called the police who came and arrested one of the youths”.

A source close to the palace told Sunday Vanguard that their traditional ruler never sent anyone to carry out the dastardly act. The source clarified that the traditional ruler only instructed the youths to take the deceased to the police station, adding: “Our Obi was even shocked when news of the death of Ifechuwude reached him. In fact, he was the one that called in the police and released one of the suspects to them”.

When the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, was reached , he told Sunday Vanguard on phone that he was not at the Command and could as such not give details . But he assured he would call back.

However, a source at the Command confirmed the arrest of one of the alleged killers, informing that effort was on to apprehend other fleeing suspects. It was also gathered the traditional ruler would be invited for questioning , as part of the investigation.

The Idumu-Ugbe quarters in particular and the entire Onitcha Ugbo are currently anxious for the police next line of investigation.

Although some of them confirmed the allegation leveled against the deceased, they wondered why death should be the penalty.  The criminal allegation of rape, according to them, could have been handled  appropriately by security agencies.