The police in Imo State have arrested two suspects over the murder of the cashier of a gas plant in the state, Miss Joy Uchechi Nwachukwu.
Our correspondent gathered that 36-year-old Nwachukwu failed to return home after close of work thereby triggering anxiety among relatives who reported the matter to the police on October 24.
The spokesman for the police in the state, CSP Michael Abattam who disclosed this in a statement dated November 7 said the police undertook a discreet investigation upon receipt of the report.
According to Abattam, sufficient suspicion was aroused in the investigating cops upon discovering that Nwachukwu who doubles as secretary/cashier at Halim Gas Station, Toronto, Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area of the state was moving proceeds of weekly sales to bank on Tuesdays.
According to him, the cops armed with forsensic equipment failed to find anything incriminating upon searching the premises of the gas station.
But not one to easily give up, Abattam added that the cops moved to the back of the gas plant to behold a blood stain on the wall, a discovery which led them to a shallow grave where her killers had interred her remains.
Abattam said; ‘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 Equipments.
“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 Tuesdays 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 puzzle surrounding the disappearance of the lady and a thorough searching 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 area for 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”.
