Shock, as missing man found chained in hut after five years in Anambra
Shock, as missing man found chained in hut after five years in Anambra
Shock has gripped Etiti village in Igbo-Ukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, as a young man thought to have relocated overseas was found chained and locked inside a hut where he had languished for almost five years.
The victim, identified as Chigbo, popularly known as Agudo, reportedly disappeared in July 2021.
At the time, his family allegedly informed friends and neighbours that he had travelled to Europe.
That story collapsed at the weekend when locals, tracing strange sounds to an isolated building, discovered him in a deplorable condition, gaunt and bound with rusted iron chains.
Videos of the rescue, now trending on social media, show the frail young man confirming: “I’ve been locked here since July 3, 2021.”
Eyewitnesses said the locks on the hut had rusted with time, forcing rescuers to break them open before freeing him.
For nearly five years, Chigbo endured total isolation, without proper food, hygiene, or medical care.
Community sources allege that the victim’s father was behind the confinement, insisting his son was mentally unstable.
The revelation has provoked outrage among residents and social media users alike, who condemned the act as “barbaric” and demanded justice.
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the incident, noting that the victim is currently receiving urgent medical and psychological treatment. Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the case as “an inhumane and degrading act,” assuring that those responsible would face the full weight of the law.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the vigilance of the youths who exposed the crime and promised that the culprits would be prosecuted.
The shocking discovery has heightened calls for stricter laws and greater community vigilance to curb similar cases of domestic imprisonment and abuse.
