The teacher accused of flogging a 12-year-old pupil to death in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, has turned herself in to the police after days of being on the run.
Her surrender comes less than 24 hours after the Anambra State Police Command declared her wanted and launched a manhunt over the incident.
The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Mrs. Dim Ebere, reportedly presented herself at the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters following sustained search efforts by the command’s Safe School Protection Squad and officers attached to the Neni Division.
Confirming the development on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect is currently in custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for the completion of investigations.
“Following sustained manhunt operations by the Anambra State Police Command’s Safe School Protection Squad, in collaboration with officers of the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters, and continuous engagement with stakeholders and community leaders in Adazi-Ani, the principal suspect, Mrs. Dim Ebere, aged 47, has voluntarily presented herself at the Neni Police Station,” Ikenga said.
He added, “The suspect is currently in the police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, where the ongoing investigation will be concluded.”
The police spokesperson commended residents of Adazi-Ani, the traditional institution and other community stakeholders for supporting security operatives, noting that their cooperation played a significant role in the suspect’s decision to surrender.
“The family of the deceased and members of the public are hereby assured that the Command remains committed to ensuring that justice is served,” he said.
Ikenga also urged residents to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands while the investigation continues.
“The Command further urges members of the public to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands, and continue to provide useful information that will aid ongoing investigations and other policing efforts across the State,” he added.
The case stems from an incident reported on July 16, when police received information that a 12-year-old pupil allegedly died after being flogged at a school in Adazi-Ani.
According to the command, officers from the Neni Divisional Headquarters responded immediately and rushed the child to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed the pupil dead while receiving treatment.
Police said the body was deposited in a morgue for preservation and autopsy, while preliminary findings revealed visible marks of violence on several parts of the child’s body.
The incident sparked widespread outrage in the community, with many residents calling for justice and raising fresh concerns about the use of corporal punishment in schools.
The police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death are still ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
