The day started like any other day. Shop owners who had returned from Christmas festivities or who did not travel were opening their shops for daily sales. Workmen were starting their daily hustle. Little did anyone know that the events of the day were going to be unheralded.

Tragedy struck at about 1 pm on Tuesday, Jan 5th, 2021 in the family of Mr Stevens.

Little Stevens Osinachi who lived with his grandmother at Ama-wire, Egbu, Owerri was sent by his aunt to buy sachet water for her in their neighbourhood. That was the last time anyone saw him, anyone but the agents of darkness.

His aunt and grandmother raised an alarm when the 5-year old Osinachi did not return as expected. They quickly organised a search, going from shop to shop asking about their little grandson and nephew. This proved abortive as everyone denied seeing him. It seemed as if Osinachi disappeared into the thin air.

Mr Stevens, a soldier in the Nigerian Army was immediately contacted and informed about the situation on the ground. He made some calls and an announcement about the missing Osinachi was made around the community. He even threatened to send men of the Nigerian Army to barricade the community and conduct a house to house search until his son was found. He pleaded that anyone with useful information about the missing boy should come forward and promised not to reveal their identity.

Two days ago, on Thursday, the 7th of January 2021, at about 9 pm, shouts were heard at the house of one Mr Izunna. Mr Izunna is a native of Ohaji Egbema of Imo state but resides at Ama-wire as a tenant. Mr Izunna who lives with his family is a generator repairer while his wife is a dressmaker. Both are neighbours to Osinachi’s family and run a kiosk to make ends meet.

Residents who heard the screaming ran out of their houses to find out what was going on. They were shocked to see the corpse of little Osinachi being carried away by men of the NPF from Mr Izunna’s compound.

This is what happened.

At about 8 pm, the alleged suspect, Mr Izunna reported to the police that he had perceived a foul smell from the car when he went to pluck paw-paw from a paw-paw tree close to the car. On a close look, he found the boy’s corpse already decaying. 

On questioning by the Police, he admitted that Osinachi had visited his shop requesting to buy “pure” water but insisted that he sent him away since he did not have any “pure” water to sell at that point. He also added that he locked his gate after the boy left.

The car in question, which was properly locked, belongs to him, Mr Izunna and one must be left to wonder how the corpse got there in the first place especially as he claimed his gate was locked even though neighbours said he never locks his gate in the afternoon.

The chances that someone scaled the fence and entered into the compound is very small as the fence around Mr Izunna’s compound is very high and barb-wired.

However, one cannot forget the fact that it was Mr Izunna who had reported this matter to the Police himself.

There must be more to this story.

Mr Izunna has been reprimanded by the Police who has continued investigations and further arrest has been carried out.

He is married with three boys. At the time the corpse was discovered, his family was nowhere to be found. It is rumoured that they’ve gone into hiding for protection from the wrath of the angry youths. The youths of the community visited Mr Izunna’s compound and would have razed everything to the ground. It took the intervention of some people who reminded the youths that the house did not belong to Mr Izunna to calm them down.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity narrated the line of events which has taken place in her neighbourhood since Tuesday.

She condemned the heartless kidnap and murder of an innocent little boy. 

When questioned on what could be the motive of the alleged suspect, she stated that she couldn’t tell although she had heard that Mr Izunna has been passing through trying times recently.

She also called on the Police to carry out their duties effectively.

Some other persons suggested that it may not be far from ritual killings or organ harvesting.

The turn of events is very surprising as many thought that stories like this are things of the past.

What is the way forward?