Abia Police Command investigates beheading of couple in Bende LGA

The Abia State State Police Command has said it is investigating the beheading of a couple, Mr Jacob Udo and his wife, in Bende, Bende L G A. by some assailants.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, titled, “Re: The alleged murder of a couple at Bende”, on Thursday, the police simply stated, “Yes, we received such (a) report yesterday (Wednesday) at the Bende Divisional Headquarters. The crime scene has been visited, exhibits recovered, body deposited at the mortuary, and investigation is ongoing.”

Dailytrailnews gathered that the couple, Mr. Jacob Udo and his wife, Mrs. Comfort Udo, both from Itumbauzo in Bende but living in Etiti Ulo, also in Bende, was beheaded on Tuesday night by yet-to-be-identified assailants. Both were traders in Bende.

An unconfirmed source told our correspondent that the cause of the murder was suspected to have “emanated from their home community of Itumnauzo allegedly over suspected land issues.”

The source alleged that the wife, Comfort, was raped before being beheaded by the unknown assailants suspected.

However, in a swift reaction, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, condemned in the strongest terms what he called the “horrific and senseless killing of Mr. Jacob Udo and his wife, Mrs. Comfort Udo”, a couple who until their demise resided in Isiala Autonomous Community in the Bende Local Government of Abia State.

In a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu said, “The late Udo and his wife, originally hailed from Itumbuzor in the same Bende Local Government Area were reportedly beheaded and their bodies dismembered by the yet-to-be-identified assailants on Tuesday night.”
The deputy speaker who represents the Bende Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives said the heinous act of violence was “unacceptable and violates the fundamental human right to life”, describing it as “barbaric” and “no cause or grievance justifies such brutal and inhumane and dastardly act.”
He expressed his sympathies with the victims’ families and called on the state government and the law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice, while suing for calm and restraints amongst the communities in the constituency, cautioning against reprisals.
Kalu assured the public that the authorities would do the needful to ensure that the killers were found and punished for their crime, adding, “I unequivocally condemn the brutal killing of the couple. This shocking act of violence contradicts humanity’s basic principles. My thoughts are with the victims’ families and their loved ones.
“I urge the authorities to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice. We stand together against violence and extremism, advocating for a culture of tolerance, respect, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.”