A horrifying tragedy has struck the quiet community of Ibagwa-Aka in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, where four siblings — all under the age of 8 — were gruesomely murdered by a self-styled spiritualist and pastor of a Sabbath church.
The victims, Kamsiyochukwu Ezema (7), Ezinne Ezema (6), Ujunwa Ezema (5), and Chinedu Ezema (2), were reportedly bludgeoned to death with a pestle inside a building used for unlicensed spiritual and herbal operations.
The motive behind the barbaric act remains unclear, but it has left the community in shock and mourning.
Chairman of Igbo-Eze South LGA, Mr. Ferdinand Ukwueze, condemned the act during a visit to the grieving Ezema family and the scene of the crime on Saturday. Accompanied by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, Ukwueze assured the community of swift and thorough investigations.
“Our community was shaken by the tragic and heinous murder of four innocent children in Ibagwa-Aka,” Ukwueze stated. “We are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and ensuring that justice is served.”
He disclosed that key suspects had already been arrested while others remained at large. The premises where the murders occurred have been sealed by authorities.
The bereaved parents, Mr. Chinonso and Mrs. Loveth Ezema, were away when the children were murdered. Devastated and demanding answers, Mr. Ezema urged law enforcement to ensure the culprit faces the full weight of the law. “We want the police to thoroughly investigate this and ensure the culprit is brought to book,” he said tearfully.
Efforts to get a comment from the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, proved unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, and residents are calling for enhanced security, stricter regulation of spiritual practices, and justice for the slain children.
As the community grapples with this unspeakable loss, the government has vowed to tighten surveillance and prevent such horrors from ever repeating.
