Residents of Ogbogoro Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were thrown into shock after a tricycle operator, identified only as IK, killed his partner and fled, leaving her body alongside their two young children.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday along CPM Street in Ogbogoro, where residents gathered after news of the disturbing discovery spread through the area.
Details surrounding the argument that allegedly preceded the woman’s death remain unclear.
However, a resident who identified himself as Senibo said neighbours became aware of the situation after spotting a parked tricycle containing an unresponsive woman and two children.
According to him, the scene was discovered early in the morning.
“At about 7 a.m., people noticed a woman lying motionless inside a tricycle with two little girls believed to be her children. Concerned residents immediately alerted the police,” he said.
Senibo explained that officers from the Ozuoba Police Division arrived at the location and began gathering information from witnesses. During preliminary inquiries, the older child reportedly narrated what happened before the family arrived at the spot where the body was found.
The child allegedly informed investigators that her father had assaulted her mother with an object while they were staying at a guest house on Monday night.
The resident further stated that after noticing the woman could no longer respond or move, the suspect reportedly left the guest house with the children and their mother, later abandoning them inside the tricycle before escaping.
Police later contacted a relative of the deceased, who identified the body. The remains were subsequently taken to a mortuary, while arrangements were made for the care of the children.
Sources familiar with the matter said the deceased’s sister has since assumed responsibility for the two minors.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, said detectives have launched an investigation and are working to track down the suspect.
She disclosed that the Ozuoba Police Division received a distress call from a passer-by who reported seeing a woman who appeared lifeless alongside two children inside a blue tricycle parked by the roadside.
According to Agabe, officers responded immediately and discovered the woman’s body together with two children estimated to be about five years old and six months old.
She said preliminary findings suggest the suspect abandoned both the children and the deceased before fleeing the area.
“The suspect subsequently abandoned the children and the woman’s corpse inside the tricycle before fleeing. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the suspect and make him face the law,” she stated.
The police spokesperson added that the children are currently safe and in the custody of the deceased’s sister while investigations continue.