By Adadainfo
The late staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State, Mr Osita Duruoha, was strangulated to death by his killers to dispossess him of his shuttle bus, the killers confessed.
Nwobodo Samuel Obumneme (26) and Malachi Chinedu Uzorchukwu (28), both suspected killers, disclosed their sole objective in killing the electoral official while being paraded by the Anambra State Police Command.
Recall that the deceased was declared missing in September 2022. His remains were subsequently found by the roadside at Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area of the state.
One of the suspects, Uzorchukwu, said he and his co-hoodlum pretended to contract the deceased for a trip with the goal of robbing him.
In his words, “Obum, my lodge mate, visited me on September 29. He told me to accompany him to see one man. Around 8pm, we stopped the deceased to carry us to Isuaniocha to pick up our working tools. I sat at the back. 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 (the cyclist’s) neck. He struggled to ease himself.
“In the process, Obum stepped out and assisted in tying his hand, leg and mouth until we got to the bush where we dumped the body.
“I agreed to join Obum because I’ve been looking for a job. He promised to sell the bus and share the money with me.”
The state police commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, told newsmen weekend that the duo were arrested in Enugu by detectives from the State CID while the deceased shuttle bus had been recovered.
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’, 43.
“The duo ordered the driver to stop. 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.”
