Two men identified as local bricklayers were apprehended by youths in Obodogba, a community in Okpanam near Asaba, Delta State, following claims that they were attempting to secretly bury a young girl.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday after watchful residents spotted the individuals at a secluded site, prompting a swift community reaction that forced the men to stop and exhume the child’s body.
Residents intervene as video captures confrontation
Footage circulating on social media shows an agitated crowd of local youths apprehending and dragging the two suspects toward an open field before turning them over to law enforcement.
In the video, community members can be heard advising against jungle justice, with one voice cautioning, “Don’t kill him, but let’s take them to the police station.”
During the confrontation, one of the primary suspects strongly denied accusations of foul play or involvement in ritual activity, insisting that he was the child’s father.
“I am innocent, I am not a ritualist. The girl is my daughter,” the suspect declared when questioned by the crowd. When pressed on the cause of death, he maintained: “She died; nobody killed her.”
Police launch investigation into circumstances surrounding death
Following the community intervention, the two suspects were escorted to the Okpanam Divisional Police Station for official questioning and investigation.
While unverified rumors of sexual assault and foul play circulated among residents, security authorities have urged calm as investigation efforts continue.
When contacted regarding the incident, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, stated that official details regarding the case remain unconfirmed pending further inquiry.
Local authorities and investigators are currently working to verify the suspect’s claim of paternity and establish the precise medical cause of the child’s death.
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