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The Nigerian Police in Enugu have arrested a 33-year-old man, Ikechukwu Okoye, and his girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, 39, for allegedly abducting and killing a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Mary Nwatu. The victim was reportedly buried in a shallow grave, and the suspects later attempted to extort her children by demanding a ransom of ₦6 million.
The Enugu State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad apprehended the suspects after they collected ₦20,000 from the victim’s family under the pretense of allowing them to hear her voice over the phone.
According to a statement by the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs. Nwatu was reported missing on September 15, 2024, after all efforts to locate her failed.
“On October 5, 2024, the principal suspect, Ikechukwu Okoye, a relative of the victim, began contacting her children to demand ₦6 million in ransom,” Ndukwe stated.
The suspect reportedly confessed during interrogation, revealing that he abducted Mrs. Nwatu on September 14, 2024, when she visited his home searching for his mother. He admitted to killing her and burying her body in a shallow grave inside an unfinished building on the property.
Okoye further disclosed that after initial ransom negotiations, the demand was reduced to ₦3 million, and he ultimately accepted ₦20,000 as a down payment.
Juliet Ogbodo, Okoye’s girlfriend, confessed to being aware of the crime but failed to report it out of fear.
The police have since exhumed the victim’s remains, which have been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Ndukwe assured that the suspects, along with any other individuals implicated in the crime, will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
“The Enugu State Police Command remains committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family,” he said.
