Brother Allegedly Killed in Rivers Following Witchcraft Accusations

A man, identified as Mr. Nwalozie Chiwendu, has allegedly taken the life of his brother, Mr. Chidiebere Isaiah, during a violent confrontation using a cutlass.

The tragic event transpired around 4 PM on Thursday in Umunwacha village, located within the Ofeh community of the Omuma Local Government Area in Rivers State.

According to local residents, Chiwendu accused his brother of practicing witchcraft that he believed was obstructing his success in business.

Reports suggest that the victim’s body sustained numerous machete wounds, and authorities have initiated a manhunt for the suspect, who has fled the scene.

The community has mobilized efforts to locate the alleged assailant, pledging to turn him over to law enforcement for investigation.

Mr. Chinonso Favour Chima, the Youth President of Ofeh community, expressed his sadness regarding the incident, calling it unfortunate. He stated, "Yesterday evening, I received a call from some community members informing me about the disturbing event involving two brothers from the same household."

Chima detailed the sequence of events, saying that the younger brother attacked his elder sibling with a cutlass and escaped before locals could intervene. He emphasized, "After receiving the distressing call, I instructed them to urgently transport the victim to a hospital, while I rushed from town to assist in managing the situation."

Unfortunately, the victim was not attended to promptly at the first hospital they reached, and he succumbed to his injuries before they could arrive at another facility. Recognizing the nature of the incident as a murder case, Chima insisted they must properly report it to the local police rather than leaving the body in the morgue.

He further noted, "The suspect remains at large, and we are diligently searching for him. The community has initiated a thorough search to ensure he is apprehended and faces justice."

Meanwhile, the police have been notified of the incident and have commenced their investigation.

CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokesperson for the Rivers State Police, corroborated the details of the incident, stating that the police have embarked on a search for the suspect to ensure legal action is taken against him. She explained, "Information I have indicates that the suspect attacked the victim with a cutlass, accusing him of witchcraft that he believed was preventing his prosperity. The deceased's remains have been retrieved and placed in the morgue, while a manhunt is underway to apprehend the fugitive in line with Police Commissioner CP Olugbenga Adepoju's directive."