Against reports in some sections of the media, Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Hosea Karma, has stated that the six siblings, who died in Ekwulumili, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra state, about two weeks ago after eating a meal of rice and beans, were not poisoned.
PUNCH quoted Karma as saying that the six children died after eating their mother’s meal.
“Nobody killed them. They died after eating jollof rice and beans. One of the children first complained of runny stomach before giving up. So, nobody killed them.
“Our suspicion is that the beans might be contaminated by preservative chemical.
“Ekwulumili is not known for such diabolic acts. We’re predominantly a Christian community with ancestral consanguinity and affinity. So, nobody can think of such an evil act here. Why should somebody think of killing such innocent souls? For what purpose,” the source queried.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police further said, “The parents of the children, who spoke with us, did not tell us that anybody poisoned or killed their children. “The mother of the children told us that the children died after eating a meal she cooked by herself and served to her children by herself.
“So why should we start arresting people on the issue when the parents of the children have not said they were suspecting that somebody poisoned their food or killed their children?
“The six children died after eating their mother’s food.”
Before this time, there had been speculation that the six siblings died after their parents had a heated quarrel with a family relation over a piece of family farmland.
The incidence had thrown the community into deep confusion.
Earlier, the Anambra State Police Command had during the preliminary investigations into the matter raised the alarm that youths in the community had impeded investigations into the matter.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, had stated that the youths in the area were hostile to the investigating police team.
He said, “I don’t know what their problem is. They are hostile to our men, especially that first day
“They didn’t allow our men (police) to enter the community to carry out investigations. They blocked everywhere,” the PPRO said.
