The Imo State Police operatives have arrested two suspects over the disappearance and eventual murder of the secretary and cashier of Halim 633 Synergy Cooking Gas Station, Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu, aged 36 years.
In a statement issued by the Imo Police spokesman, CSP Mike Abattam, and made available to Blueprint, it followed a report of a missing person on the 24/10/2022 by the family of the young woman who left home for work at the gas plant situated at Toronto/Road Safety by MCC Road Owerri, Imo State and never returned home.
“After a futile search, the family decided to complain to the Commissioner of Police through a petition written by one Pastor Mrs Precious Abara. On receipt of the petition, it was immediately referred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) for discreet investigation. Detectives from the FORENSIC SECTION were detailed to investigate in conjunction with a team of CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS (CSI’s) led by Inspector Obele Fredrick.”
He further narrated, “The investigating team, on the 26/10/2022 at about 1200 hours, left the Police Headquarters to the scene of crime on investigation, armed with Forensic Equipment. On arrival, preliminary investigation revealed that Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu who doubles as the Secretary/Cashier of the Gas Plant, takes the weekly money sales to the bank on Tuesday’s and manages the day to day running of the company because the owner who resides abroad entrusted the business in her care. These unfolding revelations gave the team of detectives an insight into the puzzle surrounding the disappearance of the lady and a thorough search was made in the premises of the entire gas station for clues. Unfortunately, nothing incriminating was discovered hence they moved to the back of the Cooking Gas Station.
“In the course of searching, a blood stain was observed on the wall of the fence, this made the team to suspect foul play hence, they carefully and professionally traced the blood stain to an area where dried grasses were packed deceptively with two heavy stones placed on them to create an impression that nothing has been done around the area for a long time. But, the operatives were not fooled. They removed the heavy stones, the grasses and gently dugged out the earth, alas an offensive stench oozed out. Excitedly, they dug further only to discover it was a shallow grave, inside was a shovel and a cutlass and the decomposing body of Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu. Consequently, the corpse was exhumed, the shovel and cutlass recovered to the Station. Hypothetically, it is reasonably suspected that the two items recovered in the shallow grave are the murder weapons used in killing the victim.”
Abattam finally disclosed that the corpse was later evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre mortuary for autopsy, adding that two suspects were arrested and were undergoing interrogation for the gruesome murder of Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu, while two others were on the run.
He however, assured that police operatives were not relenting in their search for the fleeing suspects and that within the shortest possible time, they would be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law.
