The Anambra State Police Command has sealed the building where three siblings were brutally murdered, their lifeless bodies found in a deep freezer.
The incident reportedly occurred in Nnewichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Saturday when yet-to-be-identified assailants killed the siblings — a five-year-old boy and two girls, aged seven and nine — in their apartment.
It was gathered that the attackers stormed the apartment while the children were eating, killed them, and placed their bodies in a refrigerator in one of the rooms.
Their remains were later discovered by their mother and neighbours after an extensive search proved futile.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Wednesday, observed that the building had been fully sealed off with police tape, and the occupants temporarily relocated pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the sealing of the building in a telephone interview on Wednesday, explaining that it was necessary to prevent any interference with the investigation.
“Yes, the vicinity has been temporarily sealed because it is a crime scene. The Commissioner of Police ordered the sealing pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
“No arrests have been made yet, but inquiries and findings on the likely cause of the incident are ongoing. Information that could aid the investigation is still being gathered from residents.
“The police have launched an investigation, and we assure the grieving family that we are committed to uncovering the truth behind this tragedy. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” Ikenga added.
Speaking to our correspondent on Wednesday, the father of the murdered children, Udochukwu Ejezie, said the incident had left his family “terribly devastated,” noting that they now only have their eldest son, who is currently in seminary school in Ukpor.
Ejezie explained that the family is temporarily staying at a relative’s home since their residence remains sealed off.
He said, “This tragedy has left my family in deep despair. We have done nothing to warrant such wickedness. They did not just kill my children; they killed brilliant minds.
“We urge the authorities to ensure the truth is uncovered and the culprits are brought to justice. We have always had a good relationship with our neighbours and have no reason to suspect anyone.”
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has vowed to track down those responsible for the heinous crime to prevent a recurrence.
The State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, made this known during her visit to the crime scene on Wednesday, stating that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is aware of the incident and has pledged justice for the deceased.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, where the children’s bodies were deposited, Obinabo assured that the state government would not relent until the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted.
She said, “The perpetrators will be dealt with according to the full extent of the law. The state government is committed to bringing hope and support to the bereaved parents.
“The Chukwuma Soludo-led administration in Anambra State will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.”
Some neighbours who spoke to journalists described the incident as horrifying and prayed for divine comfort for the bereaved family.
