The Edo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a suspect alleged to have killed his fiancée, identified as Mama Hallelujah, and her three-year-old daughter, Miracle.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the development in a statement released on Tuesday in Benin and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Yamu revealed that the bodies of the mother and child were discovered on March 18 by a concerned neighbour in Ovbiogoe Community, near Ekiadolor, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that the neighbor had alerted the police after perceiving a foul smell emanating from the victims’ residence on Idiangbona Street.
“Acting on the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ekiadolor, alongside operatives, forced their way into the apartment, which had been locked from the outside.
“Inside, they found the decomposing bodies of the woman and her child.
“The woman had a deep cut on her head, suspected to be from a machete, while the child was lifeless on the bed,” Yamu stated.
He further disclosed that preliminary investigations pointed to the fiancée as the prime suspect, who has been missing since the discovery.
“The couple had been preparing for their wedding, scheduled for March 29, before the tragic incident.
“All evidence so far points to the fiancé, who has since gone underground.
“The police are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring his arrest,” Yamu added.
He assured the public that the command was committed to ensuring justice for the victims and urged anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
“We appeal to members of the public to assist with credible information that can lead to his apprehension.
“Justice must be served for the victims,” he said.
Yamu also noted that the police had intensified investigations while the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary for further examination.
