Police investigate landlady's body found in Abia soakaway

The Abia State Police Command has started looking into the death of a missing landlady. Her body was found in a soakaway pit in her neighbour’s yard in Umueleghele, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

AIG Wilfred Afolabi, the Commissioner of Police, confirmed this on Friday. He spoke to journalists about the command’s activities since September 11. "The matter is being investigated," he said.

The body was discovered after the woman went missing. Her disappearance led to a community search.

A local source, who didn’t want to be named, said that residents first thought the woman had traveled. They grew worried when she did not return after several days. The traditional ruler was notified, and youths were organized to search everywhere, including farms, paths, bushes, and unfinished buildings.

"The traditional ruler was informed. The town crier moved. Youths were mobilised. For days, Umueleghele was searched, farms, paths, bushes, uncompleted buildings. The air was heavy with anxiety.

"Nobody imagined that the answer was right inside the community, inside a 30-foot soakaway pit," the source said.

The search finally led to her body, which was found in a soakaway pit about 30 feet deep in a neighbouring compound.

Community members claimed that before her disappearance, the woman had a land dispute with a man in the area. They said she refused to sell part of her land to a man known locally as ‘New World’ and suggested he might be connected to her disappearance.

These claims have not been confirmed, and the police have not named any suspects or shared details about the circumstances of her death.

The same community sources also claimed that acid was poured into the soakaway pit. They said some parts of the woman’s body were missing when her remains were found.

The police have not verified these claims, including any suggestions of ritual motives.

Reports say the suspect was handed over to the police for further investigation.