The sleepy university community of Uturu in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State woke up to the rude shock of the cold-blooded murder of two students of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), on Saturday, March 12, 2016.

The most tragic of the incident was not just that Samuel Ethelbert, a third-year Political Science student and Chukwuebuka Nwaigbo, also a third-year student of Estate Management, were killed, but their bodies were butchered like meat for sell. The gruesome murder took place at about 10pm in Chido Lodge, a private hostel, about four kilometres off ABSU campus.

The ugly incident set security agents to work. They combed all corners with the objective of smoking out the culprits. After painstaking efforts, through inter-agency collaborations, some of the suspects were arrested. Almost three months into their hunt, the Department of State Services (DSS), led by their Abia State Director, Korede Kamoju, paraded four suspects who have confessed to the crime. Kamoju said the feat was achieved in liaison with the authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) and ABSU.

The DSS boss disclosed that the suspects were variously arrested around MOUAU and Umuahia. They are Chikezie MacDonald, 22 (a.k.a Walking Dutch), Chidozie Obi, 21 (a.k.a Small Body), Chukwuemeka Awom, 25 (Arch Angel) and Chigozie Francis Eberendu, 23 (a.k.a Star Boy). They are all members of the Burkina Faso cult group.

The DSS said the suspects conspired with others at large and stormed the residence of their three victims at Chido Lodge, Uturu on March 12, 2016 at about 10 pm. After the dastardly attack, two of their targets, Nwaigbo and Chukwuebuka, who belong to the Marphite cult group were beheaded. The third victim, Isaac Chigozirim, said to be a member of Vikings, was left with serious bullet wounds. He later died in the hospital on March 18, 2016. In their statements, the suspects confessed to the crime, according to the DSS and revealed how the attacks were planned and executed.

Below are their confessional statements:

Chikezie MacDonald (a.k.a Walking Dutch)

MacDonald who is the present Capone of Burkina Faso cult group in MOUAU, disclosed that the attack was planned in a hotel along Ikot-Ekpene road, via Umudike, where he pledged to supply the gun to be used for the attack and N6, 000 for logistics, but was only able to supply the gun. However, he denied taking part in the attack.

Chukwuemeka Awom (a.ka Arch Angel)

The Ikwuano Umuahia-born student of ABSU stated that their attack was a reprisal meant to avenge the death of Collins Agwu Kalu (a.k.a Biggy), a fourth-year student of the Department of Microbiology and then leader of Burkina Faso in ABSU who was allegedly killed by members of Marphite on February 22, 2016. He narrated that he was present at the meeting where the attack was planned and that he played the role of gatekeeper at the lodge during the attack. His role was to watch the entrance of the lodge and alert the attackers if security agents were approaching the venue.

Chidozie Obi (a.k.a Small Body)

An indigene of Uturu and member of Burkina Faso cult group is not a student but "Okirika" (secondhand clothe) seller in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He said he lives at Second Artillery in Port Harcourt. He equally confessed to have taken part in the planning and execution of the dastardly act. He stated that he partook in the shooting and actual beheading of their victims. He further stated that Chigozirim, the third victim was also shot but was not beheaded because he claimed he was a member of the Vikings cult group and not Marphite. He also disclosed that he, Awom and others still at large partook in the dropping of the severed heads at the frontage of the university campus gate.

Chigozie Francis Eberendu (a.ka Star Boy)

He is a final year Accounting student of ABSU who succeeded Biggy as the leader of Burkina Faso cult group in ABSU. He admitted that he was present on February 22, 2016 when BF and Marphite had a shootout that led to the death of Biggy. He also disclosed that series of meetings were held in Olokoro, Umuahia South in Abia South and Owerri, Imo State where the plots to avenge the death of Biggy were concluded and gave graphic details of how the plot was executed, and confessed that he was part of the planning and beheading of the two Marphites members.

The DSS Director appealed to the public to support and cooperate with his command, particularly by giving information that could lead to the arrest of criminals.

“At this juncture, the Command would want to remind members of various cult groups and other criminal gangs operating in the state that the era of operating freely is gone. They should know that the long arms of the law would always catch them no matter how long ago the crime was committed,” Kamoju said. “The Command is assuring members of the public of their safety and is urging them to always cooperate with the security agencies in the provision of useful information that could help in tracking down criminals in their midst as security is a collective responsibility,” he added.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who had pledged to hunt down the killers of the students, expressed happiness over the arrest of the suspects, adding that they were not fit to live among human beings. It is believed that the arrest of the suspect would mark a breakthrough in eradicating cultism in higher institutions in Abia. While on parade, all the suspects confessed to newsmen of their involvement in the crime. They swore to repent if ever they will be let off the hook.

•Photo shows ABSU Main Gate.

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