DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the state police command’s spokesperson, said in a statement made on Thursday that the suspect had spent the night at the victim’s father’s house.
However, in the early hours of Thursday morning, an altercation erupted between the suspect and the victim’s father, leading to Anayo attacking and murdering the girl.
The statement reads: “Anambra State Police operatives have today 16/6/2022 arrested one Mr. Onwele Anayo ‘M’ aged 34-year-old on the murder of Divine Eze ‘M’ aged 3, residing in Hillview Estate, Nkwelle -Ezunaka.
“Preliminary information shows that the suspect visited the father of the victim on Wednesday 15/6/2022 and spent the night in the victim’s house. In the early hours of Thursday 16/6/2022, an argument ensued between the father and the suspect.
“The suspect (Mr. Anayo) took the child (Divine) as she was sleeping and killed her, by hitting her on the floor several times. Mr. Anayo carried a knife from the room, and pursued the father around the house, threatening to kill him.’’
Tochukwu stated that police officers went to the scene and retrieved the child’s body and that an investigation is underway.
