Brother Hacked to Death in Rivers Over Witchcraft Accusation, Suspect at Large
A middle-aged man, identified as Mr. Nwalozie Chiwendu, has allegedly killed his brother, Chidiebere Isaiah, in a brutal machete attack in Rivers State. The incident occurred around 4 pm on Thursday, February 12, 2026, in Umunwacha village, Ofeh community, Omuma Local Government Area.
Residents reported that Chiwendu accused his brother of practicing witchcraft and using it to hinder his business success, leading to the fatal assault. The deceased's body bore multiple machete wounds, and the suspect is currently at large, with local authorities and the community launching an intensive manhunt.
Community and Police Response
The Youth President of Ofeh community, Mr. Chinonso Favour Chima, confirmed the incident, describing it as a very unfortunate situation. He stated that he received a call about the attack and directed efforts to rush the victim to a hospital. However, after being turned away from one facility, the man succumbed to his injuries en route to another.
Chima emphasized that due to the murder case, they reported the matter to the nearest Police Division in Eberi, Omuma Local Government Area, and have deposited the body in a mortuary. He urged the community to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, while stakeholders work to maintain peace.
Police Investigation and Manhunt
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, noting that the suspect used a cutlass to machete the victim to death after accusing him of witchcraft that allegedly prevented his prosperity. She stated that the corpse has been retrieved and deposited in a mortuary, and a manhunt has been launched for the suspect.
This effort aims to arrest and bring him to face the law, in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju. The community has vowed to apprehend the perpetrator and hand him over to law enforcement for proper investigation.
