Three Kids Found Dead Inside Car In Enugu, Police Open Investigation

The Enugu State Police Command, Wednesday, ordered full investigations into the mysterious death of three kids, two brothers and a sister, who were found dead in a car allegedly belonging to a police officer. The incident occurred at Itchi community in Igboeze South Local Government Area of the state.

A release by the state police PRO, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said, “On 23/11/2020, at 0940hrs, the command received a report made at Igboeze South divisional headquarters that three children were found dead in a parked Toyota Camry car at Itchi community of Igboeze South LGA.

“On the receipt of the report, operatives of the division dashed to the scene, and found two of the children still alive, while three others were lifeless. The surviving children were immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention, while the lifeless ones were deposited in the mortuary for medical autopsy.”

Ndukwe identified the dead ones as Chukwuebuka Eze (male, aged five), Chinyere Eze (female, aged four), and Chibugoh Eze (female, aged four), while those found alive were Kingsley Eze (male, aged three), and Nmasichukwu Eze (female, aged 12).

He added that, “The children had left their homes in Nkalagu-Okpuku community of the same local government area to fetch water from a borehole at Itchi, a neighbouring community, on 22/11/2020, and were not seen till the following morning when they were found locked up in the said vehicle.”

According to him, one suspect had been arrested in connection with the case, and enjoined members of the public to remain law-abiding, vigilant and promptly report acts of crimes and criminalities to the nearest police station or call the command’s hotlines on 08032003702, 08075390883,

Meanwhile, the state commissioner of police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, has directed the transfer of the case to the state CID for a full-scale investigation to ascertain the cause of their death. AbdurRahman also tasked parents/guardians to be vigilant and take good care of their children/wards, especially in these ‘ember months’ period, while reassuring the emplacement of adequate security.

In his reaction, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Ike Oke, told newsmen that upon the receipt of the missing kids, he mobilised personnel of vigilante and Forest Guard groups to rescue them. He was reported to have said that, “We were almost frustrated in our search when a community member who went to fetch water heard the voice of a little child calling her name. She traced the voice to a car that had been parked for over six months in the compound where she discovered the children and raised the alarm.

“We found three of the children already dead by the time we opened the car. I think they suffocated to death because the car doors were stiff when we tried to open it at first, but we engaged an artisan who forced it open. One of the two children rescued said they went to fetch water, but didn’t meet anyone at the borehole because the owner and the entire members of the family had gone to church service.

“He informed us that they were about going home when three hooded men came from a hill beside the scene of the incident, and abducted them into the car and left. He said they were all dressed in red cloths. He also said that the men returned at the middle of the night to take them away, but they couldn’t open the car doors. The owner of the house has been arrested by police.”