By Patrick Obia
A suspected businessman identified as Uche is said to have disappeared with the corpses of his three children who died mysteriously in his car boot in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The tragedy is said to have occurred in Ntamkpo, opposite the Catholic Church Ugep on Friday 17 December 2022 in the evening hours.
Sources said the children – two boys and one girl between the age of 14, 12, and 9 years old were found lifeless in the boot of their father’s car in the afternoon after they were declared missing.
A reliable source who does not want name on print disclosed that the scene played out when the mother of the trio returned from the market and was preparing a meal, she asked them to go stay with their father (possibly in the shop to assist, since he runs a beer parlor), when she had finished and wanted them to come and eat but could not find them, and the search began.
While the search continued, at about the evening hours (5:30 – 6 pm), Mr. Uche, who is said to hail from one of the Eastern States, opened his car and the boot and discovered the three children inside, dead.
One of the sources added that, while the tragic event was gathering public uproar, the suspect – Uche and his wife allegedly ran away with the corpses in the late hours of Friday to his State.
“The man’s wife returned from the market and was cooking. She asked the children to go and meet their father (possibly in the shop). By the time she finished cooking and was looking for them to eat, she could not find them. She asked the husband about the children, he said he couldn’t find them. Maybe they were in the shop; they got to the shop and the children were not there, so they started looking for them and also thought they went out to play.
“Towards the evening hours, the husband wanted to drive out in search of them, he opened his car boot, and behold the three children were found lifeless. Shockingly, that same night, the man ran away with the corpses to his village for burial. By this morning, people started looking for him but could find him and his wife; they ran away. They were not arrested immediately.
“The story is not clear at all, there is something fishy; it is a kind of money ritual of a thing.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Police force, SP Irene Ugbo said she has not been armed with the information.