The suspect, identified as Nneamaka Nwosu, a native of Amawbia in Awka South Local Government Area, had come into contact with the deceased after she became homeless following a divorce.
According to a resident of the area, Ms Nwosu had sought refuge with the policewoman after her husband expelled her from their home, leaving her in desperate need of accommodation. However, a dispute between the two escalated, and the resident recounted the horrifying events that unfolded.
The witness stated, "She hit the policewoman on the head with a pestle, and she fell and became unconscious. She quickly tied the policewoman and her two kids with a rope inside their room and set them ablaze together with the building." The gravity of the crime left the community in shock.
Local vigilantes and villagers sprang into action upon noticing the fire, apprehending the suspect as she attempted to flee the scene.
During initial questioning, Nwosu denied her involvement, claiming that the tragedy resulted from a gas explosion while the deceased and her children were boiling water. However, she later confessed to the crime, attributing it to the devil's influence.
In response to the incident, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the arrest of the suspect. He conveyed the tragic news that the bodies of the policewoman and her children had been taken to the mortuary.
The case has been transferred to the State Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Ikenga corroborated the witness's account and assured the public that any significant developments regarding the case would be communicated in due course. The community is left grappling with the heinous act committed within its midst, as authorities work diligently to bring justice to the victims and their grieving families.