Chairman of Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Barr Ferdinand Ukwueze has expressed outrage over the murder of four children of the same parents by a spiritualist.
NATIONAL POST learnt that the children Kamsiyochukwu Ezema (7), Ezinne Ezema (6), Ujunwa Ezema (5), and Chinedu Ezema (2), were gruesomely murdered with a pestle by a pastor (names withheld) of a sabbath church located in the area.
The motive behind the dastardly act remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.
Ukwueze, who visited the traumatized family, weekend, vowed that justice must catch up with the perpetrators.
He ordered that the premises where the incident took place be sealed with immediate effect.
The council chairman said "our community was shaken by the tragic and heinous murder of four innocent children in Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area. I am deeply saddened by this act of senseless violence and extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the victims.
"Today, I visited the crime scene in the company of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Civil Defence and other relevant security operatives to assess the situation firsthand and to ensure that immediate steps are taken to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"Following preliminary investigations, law enforcement agencies have apprehended some key suspects in connection with the crime, while still searching for others yet at large.
"Additionally, the premises reasonably believed, as alleged to be used for unauthorized herbal medicine operations, rendering of informal psychiatric services and other yet-to-be fully explained spiritual activities, alleged to be linked to the prime suspects and the crime scene have been sealed by the Igbo-Eze South Local Government Authority pending the outcome of investigation report by the Police.'
He vowed that "we are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and ensuring that justice is served. I wish to assure the people of Igbo-Eze South that we will continue to collaborate closely with security agencies to strengthen surveillance, enhance community safety, and prevent such grievous incidents from recurring.
"We ask for the continued cooperation of law abiding members of the public, civil society organisations, as we urge anyone with relevant security information to exercise the liberty of assisting law enforcement authorities with same, as confidentiality is always guaranteed."
Meanwhile the late kids’ devastated parents, Chinonso Ezema and Loveth Ezema, who were away during the incident, are demanding for justice.
“We want the police to thoroughly investigate this and ensure the culprit is brought to book,” the father said.