Operatives of Okpuje Division of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old Sunday Echege, a resident of Ibagwa-Agu Farm Settlement in Ibagwa-Ani community of Nsukka local government area for severing the left wrist of his wife, Chinonso Echege over suspected infidelity.
A statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed that the arrest was made possible with the assistance of law-abiding members of the community, adding that the machete used in committing the crime has been recovered from the suspect.
Ndukwe stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect claimed to have acted out of suspicion that his wife was involved in extramarital affairs.
He added that the suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to ensure thorough and timely investigation on the incident.
CP Uzuegbu, according to the statement, further urged couples to resolve their differences through love, understanding, and legal means, rather than resorting to violent criminal acts.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State government has moved the wife to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital for medical care.
The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, disclosed this on Tuesday.
“This is yet another sad development, which we are following up with to ensure that justice is done.
“The information we have that the man in question aimed for the wife’s head during a disagreement, but ended up chopping off the left hand with which she tried to fend off the machete. She also sustained injury on the right hand.
“So, we swung into action immediately we got the information and had him arrested immediately. So, he is now in police custody.
“But the most urgent matter now is to save the victim’s life. So, we have moved her to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, where she is currently receiving full medical attention.”
She maintained that the state government is taking the case very seriously, saying the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah is personally on the gruesome matter and has vowed that justice must be served.
The Commissioner warned Enugu residents to refrain from all manner of domestic and gender-based violence as well as child abuse, vowing that the administration would never treat such with levity.
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