In a deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves across Enugu State, a woman identified as Mrs. Chidima Arinze has been arrested for allegedly murdering two of her three children in what police sources and neighbours describe as an act of “family frustration.”

According to reliable accounts gathered by Naija Blog and confirmed by law enforcement officers, the tragic incident occurred on the morning of Monday, July 21, at the family’s residence located at No. 47 Unity Road, near Abakpa Timber Shade Market in Enugu East Local Government Area.

Experience from the Scene

Eyewitnesses in the neighbourhood say the mother, reportedly overwhelmed by personal and family pressures, suddenly attacked her children with a knife while they were sitting together.

“She had three children—two girls and a boy,” a neighbour who requested anonymity told our correspondent. “Without any quarrel or sign, she picked a knife, stabbed her four-month-old son to death, and then attacked her daughter, stabbing her in the chest. The eldest child escaped and ran to call neighbours.”

Shockingly, the woman did not attempt to flee. Instead, she reportedly called her sister and confessed to the killings. It was the sister who contacted the police.

Police Response and Investigation

When the Trans-Ekulu Police Division received the distress call around 9:00 a.m., officers were immediately deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the lifeless bodies of the two victims—Esther Arinze, aged 4, and Chibusoma Arinze, aged four months—lying in a pool of blood.

Both children showed signs of violent injuries believed to have been inflicted with a sharp object. The scene was secured, and forensic documentation was carried out before the suspect was taken into custody without resistance.

A police officer involved in the investigation confirmed to Naija Blog:

“The mother was arrested calmly at the scene. She showed no resistance, and from preliminary statements, it seems the act was driven by severe emotional and financial stress.”

The children were pronounced dead by medical staff at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT), Parklane, where their remains have been deposited for autopsy.

Possible Motive: Family Strain

Neighbours and close contacts of the family revealed that Mrs. Arinze had consistently complained about her husband's frequent absence and lack of support. According to one neighbour, “She felt completely abandoned. The burden of caring for three children alone weighed heavily on her.”

Although the Enugu State Police Command has not yet issued an official public statement, internal sources indicate that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more thorough probe.

Community Reacts

The neighbourhood remains in mourning, with residents expressing horror and disbelief over the event. “We knew she was struggling, but no one ever imagined it would end this way,” one resident told our reporter.