By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Asaba
DELTA: The remains of Chigozie Udalu, an engineer contracted to construct office buildings in Akwukwu-Igbo, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, have been exhumed following a chilling confession by one of the arrested suspects.
Security sources revealed that the suspects, who had been working at the site, accused the deceased of owing them money and verbally abusing them. They also admitted to plotting to steal cement from the construction site but saw the engineer as an obstacle to their plan.
According to a police source, “On December 10, 2024, they initially planned to strike him with a 2×2 plank but feared he might overpower them. The next day, December 11, the assailants, identified as Tiv laborers, strangled him by tying a rope around his neck from behind. They then buried his body in a shallow grave on a nearby farm.”
Following the murder, the suspects reportedly completed their contract at the site and stole the victim’s phone, attempting multiple times to transfer money via a mobile banking app. The incident took another twist when the landlord of the construction site was accused of involvement in money rituals, prompting him to swear an oath at traditional shrines before the victim’s family to prove his innocence.
Delta State Police Command spokesman, Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests and ongoing investigations. “We are aware of the incident, and our men are working to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” he stated.
The gruesome murder has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents calling for swift prosecution of the suspects to serve as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.