The Anambra State Police Command has arrested the parents of twin infants whose lifeless bodies were discovered in a drainage channel in the Okpoko area of Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The grim discovery was made in the early hours of Sunday along Cooperative Street, Nwokedi, where passersby reportedly found the bodies wrapped in a box containing baby clothes and alerted officers of the Okpoko Divisional Police Headquarters.
Residents expressed shock over the incident, describing it as disturbing and unacceptable.
One resident, identified simply as Uche, who was among the first to witness the scene, condemned the act and urged authorities to ensure justice is served.
“This is shameful and should not be encouraged.
There are orphanages where unwanted children can be taken instead of abandoning them in such a manner,” she said.
Another eyewitness speculated that the infants may have been abandoned by someone unwilling or unable to care for them.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said investigations were immediately launched after the report was received.
According to him, preliminary findings led to the identification and arrest of the biological parents of the deceased infants.
Ikenga stated that the suspects are currently in police custody and assisting investigators in determining the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He explained that officers secured the scene, recovered relevant evidence and commenced inquiries shortly after receiving information about the discovery.
The spokesperson added that the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a disturbing violation of the sanctity of human life.
The police chief also commended officers for their swift response and professional handling of the case, which led to the arrest of the suspects within a short period.
Orutugu reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law, stressing that every child deserves protection, care and the opportunity to live.
The police said investigations are ongoing and assured residents that further details would be made public as the case progresses.