A 33-year-old man, Ikechukwu Okoye, and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, have been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping and murdering a 70-year-old girl, Mrs. Mary Nwatu.
The suspects, each from Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Group, Nkanu West Native Authorities Space of the state, reportedly killed the sufferer and buried her in a shallow grave earlier than demanding a ransom of N6 million from her kids.
They have been apprehended after receiving N20,000 from the household, ostensibly to facilitate a telephone name with the sufferer.
In an announcement issued Thursday evening, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that the arrest was carried out by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad following credible intelligence.
In line with Ndukwe, preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs. Nwatu was reported lacking on September 15, 2024.
“On October 5, 2024, the principal suspect, Ikechukwu Okoye, who can also be a kinsman of the sufferer, contacted her kids, demanding a ransom of N6 million,” Ndukwe acknowledged.
Okoye was subsequently arrested and reportedly confessed to the crime.
“He admitted abducting Mrs. Nwatu on September 14, 2024, at about 8 am when she got here to their home to search for his mom.
“He additional confessed to killing her and burying her in a shallow grave inside an uncompleted constructing within the compound.” the police officer stated.
The suspect additionally admitted to demanding a ransom from the sufferer’s kids, initially requesting N6 million earlier than negotiating right down to N3 million.
Nonetheless, he accepted an preliminary fee of N20,000 on the situation that the household would hear their mom’s voice over the telephone earlier than making additional funds.
Juliet Ogbodo, Okoye’s girlfriend, additionally confessed throughout interrogation to being conscious of the crime however claimed she didn’t report it to authorities out of concern.
The sufferer’s stays have since been exhumed and deposited in a mortuary for preservation and post-mortem.
Ndukwe assured all that the suspects, together with some other people discovered complicit, could be arraigned in courtroom upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The Enugu State Police Command stays dedicated to making sure justice for the sufferer and her household,” Ndukwe stated.