Why I killed ABSU student, Emmanuel Uche, suspected cultist confesses

Emmanuel Victor, the suspect in the viral video depicting the killing of a student of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Emmanuel Uche, last March, has confessed why he killed the victim.

Victor stated this while being paraded alongside 110 others in Umuahia on Sunday by the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police. 

When asked by newsmen, the suspect said, “I am here because I committed murder. I actually killed Emmanuel Uche,” stating that he is from Mbaitolu in Imo State and based in Port Harcourt.

“I am a student of Abia State University, Uturu and studying Optometry, level 500. I killed him. He is a member of another cult group that came to pick up a phone from us.

“After we finished talking, we told them that they should come back later in the day to pick the phone. One of Emmanuel’s members, that is the one I shot at, escalated and then I shot him in the leg.

“I do regret the action. A day before that day, they come looking for one of my members. That night, my member was walking around their lodge and saw one of them. Then he took the phone from them and brought it to his own lodge.

“The next day, when they came back to take their phone, the thing happened”

He pleaded for a second chance, stating that this was his first time killing somebody.

According to the Police, “On 11/3/2024, a viral video surfaced depicting the murder of Emmanuel Uche, a 500-level student of Abia State University, in front of Miracle Lodge, Uturu.

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“Acting on credible intelligence, on 18/4/2024, at about 1100hrs, a team of police detectives from Abia State Police Command apprehended the principal suspect at Isiukwuato who was captured in the viral video committing the murder of Emmanuel Uche at Miracle Lodge, Abia State University, Uturu.

“The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Victor, has confessed to the crime. He is currently in lawful custody and will be charged to court”.

Earlier, the Abia Police Command said it successfully arrested 110 other suspects of various offences, out of which are 108 males and 3 females between January 2024 and date.

The state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, said there are also the “rescue of 9 abducted children, arrest of 16 pregnant women who attempted to be involved in child trafficking, rescue of Kidnap victims, and rape, among others, while several exhibits were recovered.

The Command further disclosed, “On 23/01/2024, based on credible intelligence, the Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia, received information that a 4-man gang in EFCC uniforms came to Enyioma Christ lodge, Umudike, dispossessed some students of their phones at gunpoint and forced them to transfer a total of ₦120,000 to their account. Upon receipt of this information, officers from Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia commenced an investigation and visited the crime scene where they arrested three men from the  Man ‘O War base MOAU namely: Onyedikachi Ihechukwumere ‘m’ 25 years, Onwuka Christopher ‘m’ 26 years and Tochukwu Obinna ‘m’ 30 years.

“They also recovered three (3) out of the six stolen phones, a tricycle with Registration No. HAF 011 VG, fleet No. 5868, which was used to facilitate their criminal act. On 24/01/2024, James Prince Victor ‘m’ 39 years of Ohuhu, Umuahia North L.G.A who claimed to be an EFCC personnel and led the Man ‘O War suspects to the students’ lodge, was arrested together with Chidozie Onwuzuruike ‘m’ 40 years of same address.

“The following items were recovered from them; 4 red coloured jackets with EFCC inscriptions, Two (2) EFCC ID cards, One of the stolen phones, One toy gun, and Four (4) EFCC search warrants”, stating that the case has been charged to court.

Fielding questions from newsmen after the parades, CP, Kenechukwu Onwumelie said, “The command has achieved significant milestones in curtailing incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping, and vandalism of government property, child trafficking rape and arson.

“A good number of cases were charged to various courts out of which, some were successfully prosecuted in the court of law”.