The remains of Chigozie Udalu, an engineer contracted to construct offices in Akwukwu-Igbo, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, have been exhumed by the police after suspects confessed to his brutal murder.
Udalu, whose sudden disappearance in December 2024 left many puzzled, was found buried in a shallow grave following a painstaking investigation by law enforcement.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported the shocking case, but it was only after two suspects were arrested that the harrowing details of his murder came to light. The suspects, identified as Tiv youths from Benue State, allegedly killed the engineer, concealed his body on a farm, and attempted to cover up their crime.
A community source revealed that the suspects had grievances against Udalu, claiming he owed them money and frequently berated them. However, their motives extended beyond a mere dispute—greed and criminal intent played a significant role. The suspects had plotted to steal cement from the construction site, but they perceived Udalu as an obstacle to their sinister agenda.
On December 10, 2024, they initially planned to ambush him using a 2×2 wooden plank but hesitated, fearing he was physically strong. The following day, on December 11, they executed their gruesome plan—strangling him from behind with a rope before burying his lifeless body in a shallow grave.
Following the murder, the assailants continued working at the construction site, brazenly attempting to access the victim’s mobile banking app using his stolen phone. Their actions did not go unnoticed, triggering suspicion that eventually led to their arrest.
The case took a bizarre turn when accusations of ritual involvement surfaced against the landlord of the construction site. Seeking to clear his name, he was subjected to a series of oaths at shrines before the victim’s grieving family.
Speaking on his ordeal, the landlord revealed that he nearly abandoned the case due to the challenges he faced at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba. However, a police officer advised him to report the matter to Ekpan Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Aliyu Shaba, who assured him that the truth would be unearthed within 30 days. True to his word, the DPO and his team deployed advanced investigative techniques that led to the breakthrough arrest of two suspects.
A crucial breakthrough came when one of the suspects, under intense questioning, finally confessed to knowing the exact location where Udalu was buried. Acting on this lead, the police, in collaboration with the Delta State government, exhumed the decomposed remains on Wednesday, confirming the engineer’s tragic fate.
A third suspect was arrested and transferred to SCID for openly threatening the victim in the presence of the landlord, further reinforcing the brutality of the crime. Of the four individuals taken into custody, two are considered the principal culprits, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the remaining accomplices still at large.
The Delta State Police Command has vowed to ensure that all those involved in the heinous crime face justice. Speaking on the incident, Command spokesperson Edafe Bright confirmed that investigations were ongoing and efforts were in full gear to apprehend any other culprits linked to the gruesome murder.
“We are aware of the incident, and our officers are working tirelessly to bring all those responsible to justice,” Bright stated.
As the investigation unfolds, the tragic murder of Chigozie Udalu serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows, even in familiar environments. The community of Akwukwu-Igbo remains shaken, mourning a man whose life was cut short by greed and betrayal. For now, justice is on the march, and the authorities remain resolute in their quest to ensure that those responsible pay for their crime in full.
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