Nigerian police have questioned a traditional ruler in Enugu state for ordering to burn the corpse of 9-year-old domestic worker, Precious Korshima.
The traditional ruler was reported to have spent hours with police and was later released on bail.
Precious, prior to her murder, was a domestic worker for Ms. Ujunwa Ugwoke of Fidelity Estate, Enugu.
Ms. Ugwuoke reportedly admitted beating Precious to death and subsequently dumping her body along the Enugu-Portharcourt Highway.
The Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN), through its chairman Olu Omotayo Esq, in a petition to the Enugu State Police Commissioner, had quoted the father of the deceased, James Achikpi Korshima, as saying that the body had been set ablaze by the villagers.
According to Omotayo, Korshima said the police informed him that when they went to the scene, they learned that the community's traditional ruler had ordered the youth to burn the decomposing body due to the unpleasant smell it gave off.
He also claimed that the traditional ruler committed an illegal act without notifying the security agents of the presence of the corpse in his domain.
Part of the petition read: “We maintain that this is a clear homicide case and that the investigation into the case has nothing to do with the anti-kidnapping basis.
“We urge you to immediately order a thorough investigation into this heinous crime by the Homicide Division of the State Criminal and Investigation Department (State CID), State Police Headquarters, Enugu.
"Ujunwa Ugwuoke killed the child cruelly and barbarously and dumped the corpse in the bush, while the traditional ruler in question completed the illegal act by ordering the corpse to be burned."
Korshima also appealed for justice, saying he fears he won't get justice as he has become frustrated after endless visits to the anti-kidnapping base for over a month. Korshima has also called for the release of her deceased child's remains so that she can give the child a proper burial.