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Tension gripped residents living along the Uke/Ideani Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday after the lifeless body of a pregnant woman was found hanging from a cashew tree near the roadside.
Although the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, it is suspected that the woman either committed suicide or was murdered on Monday night, with her body only discovered on Tuesday morning.
When our correspondent visited the scene on Tuesday, police operatives from the Ogidi Police Division, who had been alerted by local residents, had already evacuated the body and deposited it in the mortuary.
A resident, who identified himself as Ogbanna Uche, told our correspondent that no one could recognise the deceased before the police arrived to remove her body from the tree.
Uche said, “I own a shop along the road. We woke up this morning to see the lifeless body hanging from the cashew tree. We couldn’t immediately identify the deceased due to the position of the face.
“The incident might have occurred late at night because when people left for their various homes, there was no such sight. It could be a case of either suspected murder or suicide.”
Another resident, identified simply as Chinwe, said the nature of the incident suggested either suicide or murder, adding, “Incidents like this are rare in this area. That’s why people were shocked. No one could identify the deceased before the police arrived to evacuate the body.”
The Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Tuesday.
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a thorough investigation into the case.
He added that the police were working with residents of the area to uncover those responsible for the suspected murder.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on 6 May 2025, called on stakeholders and community leaders in Idemili North LGA to assist with information to help identify those behind the suspected murder of a pregnant woman found hanging from a cashew tree along the Uke/Ideani Road.
“The CP described the incident as unfortunate and a stark example of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’, and he ordered a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
“To this end, the Command urges members of the public to help identify the deceased, as police operatives from Ogidi Division have recovered the body and deposited it in the mortuary.
“Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”
