A 30-year-old man, Sunday Ejor, has been arrested for allegedly killing his live-in partner, Lucy Moshe Igu, in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident, which occurred on March 29 in Nwang community, Ekajuk Ward 2, has sparked outrage among residents, with tensions escalating between neighbouring communities following the suspect’s arrest.
According to community sources, the suspect allegedly attacked the 26-year-old woman during the night and into the early hours of the morning, dragging her to a nearby stream where he inflicted fatal machete cuts on her head, face, and neck.
He was said to have later wrapped her body in her clothing and concealed it in a nearby bush in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Residents became suspicious after the victim was not seen for several hours, prompting some youths to confront the suspect. Under pressure, he reportedly led them to the location where the body had been hidden.
The suspect was nearly lynched by the mob before police operatives intervened and took him into custody.
Sources in the community said the relationship between the couple had been marked by frequent disputes, largely driven by allegations of infidelity levelled against the victim by the suspect.
A relative of the deceased, Joy Philip, lamented the killing, describing it as brutal and unjustified, adding that the suspect had not fulfilled traditional marriage rites.
The incident also triggered protests at the Ogoja Divisional Police Station, where women from the victim’s Ibil community demanded that the suspect be handed over to them, while women from the Nwang community insisted that due legal process be followed.
Police authorities confirmed the arrest, with spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah stating that the suspect is in custody and assisting with ongoing investigations.
He added that the victim’s remains have been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ogoja, while the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiry.
