Residents of Idemili North Local Government Area in Anambra State were gripped with fears on Tuesday after the lifeless body of a pregnant woman was discovered hanging from a cashew tree along the Uke/Ideani Road.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, with suspicions ranging from suicide to possible murder.
Residents believe the incident likely occurred late Monday night, as the body was only discovered on Tuesday morning.
A local shop owner, Ogbanna Uche, said, “I own a shop along the road. We woke up this morning to see the lifeless body hanging from the cashew tree. We couldn’t immediately identify the deceased due to the position of the face.”
Another resident, identified simply as Chinwe, added, “Incidents like this are rare in this area. That’s why people were shocked. No one could identify the deceased before the police arrived to evacuate the body.”
Police operatives from the Ogidi Police Division were called to the scene and have since evacuated the body to a mortuary.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the case.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on May 6, 2025, called on stakeholders and community leaders in Idemili North LGA to assist with information to help identify those behind the suspected murder of a pregnant woman found hanging from a cashew tree along the Uke/Ideani Road,” Ikenga said.
He described the incident as “unfortunate” and a stark example of “man’s inhumanity to man,” pledging that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted.
The police have urged the public to assist in identifying the deceased as investigations continue.
