THE Anambra State Police Command said the principal suspect in the alleged flogging of a 12-year-old boy in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Council to death has surrendered to the Police, following sustained manhunt operations.
The Command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a press release, said the suspect (name withheld), voluntarily presented herself at the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters after coordinated operations by the Command’s Safe School Protection Squad, in collaboration with officers of the Neni Division, as well as sustained engagement with community leaders and other stakeholders in Adazi-Ani.
Ikenga stated that the suspect was Police custody and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, where the ongoing investigation would be concluded.
He commended the cooperation of the Adazi-Ani community, traditional institution and other stakeholders, saying their support played a significant role in the suspect’s surrender.
“The family of the deceased and members of the public are hereby assured that the Command remains committed to ensuring that justice is served,” Ikenga added, while appealling to residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, but to continue providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations and other policing efforts across the state.
The boy, Chinedu Emmanuel, reportedly died after being “severely flogged” by his teacher at a school in Adazi-Ani.
The incident sparked widespread outrage across Anambra, with residents, child rights advocates, and members of the community demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Initial reports said the teacher allegedly administered corporal punishment that left the pupil with serious injuries.
Following the incident, the suspect reportedly went into hiding, prompting the Command to launch a manhunt through its Safe School Protection Squad and officers from the Neni Divisional Headquarters.
The Command confirmed in a statement on Saturday, July 18, that the suspect, identified as Dim Ebere, 47, voluntarily reported to the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters after sustained search operations by the command’s Safe School Protection Squad.
The development comes barely a day after the police announced a manhunt for the teacher over the death of the pupil.
The incident had sparked outrage in the community and renewed concerns over corporal punishment in schools, with residents demanding justice for the deceased pupil.
