20 corpses found in Onitsha tunnel • Suspected corps member, soldier included

Posted by admin Anambra, Headlines, State News Saturday, June 18th, 2011

It was a horrible sight at a tunnel at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra state, as more than 20 corpses and carcasses suspected to have been murdered by ritualists and armed robbers were recovered by a government task force.

Saturday Sun gathered that a joint team of soldiers and members of Anambra State task force on crime prevention had stormed a concrete tunnel located at the foot of an MTN mast, within the popular Upper Iweka axis, where they discovered the corpses.

Also found inside the tunnel, it was gathered, were human parts, arms and ammunition, gallons of raw acid (both empty and filled up ones), food items and mattresses believed to be owned by a gang of criminals operating within the Upper Iweka axis and terrorising travelers who arrived Onitsha late or too early.

As at the time of filing this report yesterday, more corpses were being removed from the tunnel, as members of the task force combed the surrounding bush.
The discovery of these corpses, it was observed, followed an alarm raised by a lady, who was being raped by hoodlums inside the tunnel at 6am yesterday morning.
According to the source, “the hoodlums had abducted the lady traveller, dragged her into the tunnel, dispossessed her of all personal belongings, stripped her and raped her in turns.

Her scream attracted passers-by, who attracted members of the government task force on crime control.
“As the rapists sighted the task force men approaching the tunnel, they abandoned their victim, jumped into a surrounding bush and dispersed, while the police took the victim to a hospital, where she allegedly died.”
Saturday Sun gathered that members of the task force gave the hoodlums a hot chase and succeeded in arresting one of them at Ochanja market. He was handed over to the police.
The source further disclosed that a team of soldiers on patrol arrived and assisted the task force in recovering the corpses and arms in the tunnel.

Among the bodies found, was a decomposing one, suspected to be a corps member, who adorned his uniform. Another corps was in military uniform. Chairman of the Anambra State Task Force, Mr. Onuoha, confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate. He called on security agencies to brace up the challenges of ensuring security.

Onuoha said that feelers have revealed that Upper Iweka is the most dangerous part of Onitsha. He said that the area had become a death trap, especially for travellers who are coming into the city late or early.
When contacted, the area commander in charge of Onitsha, Mr. Larry Osita, said that the area has been known for crime. He said also that there is a high level of jungle justice in the area, as residents kill suspected armed robbers and dumped them inside the tunnel without letting the police know.

He however promised to call our reporter back when he must have contacted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area. He did not call back at the time of filling this report.wp_posts