The teacher accused of flogging a 12-year-old pupil to death in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State has surrendered to the police.
Her surrender was said to have followed days of intensive manhunt by security operatives.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the suspect, identified as Mrs. Dim Ebere, 47, voluntarily reported to the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters after sustained search operations by the command’s Safe School Protection Squad.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspect is currently in police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for the conclusion 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 command commended members of the Adazi-Ani community, the traditional institution and other stakeholders for their cooperation, saying their support contributed to the suspect’s 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,” the police spokesperson said.
Ikenga also appealed to residents to remain peaceful and allow the investigation to run its course.
“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 development comes barely a day after the police announced a manhunt for the teacher over the death of the pupil.
The Anambra State Police Command launched a search operation after receiving a report that a 12-year-old student allegedly died after being flogged at a school in Adazi-Ani.
According to the police, officers attached to the Neni Divisional Headquarters responded to the incident on July 16 and rushed the child to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed him dead while receiving treatment.
The command had also disclosed that the victim’s body was deposited in a morgue for preservation and autopsy, while preliminary observations revealed visible marks of violence on different parts of the child’s body.
The incident sparked outrage in the community and renewed concerns over corporal punishment in schools, with residents demanding justice for the deceased pupil.
Police say investigations into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death are ongoing, after which the case is expected to proceed in accordance with the law.
