By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested 33-year-old Ikechukwu Okoye and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, both of Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, over the alleged kidnap and murder of a 70-year-old woman.
The suspects allegedly kidnapped, murdered, and buried their victim, Mrs Mary Nwatu, a 70-year-old woman, in a shallow grave in September 2024.
A statement by DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, in Enugu on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad,adding, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was reported missing on September 15, 2024, after all efforts to locate her proved unsuccessful.
“On October 5, 2024, Ikechukwu Okoye, identified as the principal suspect and a kinsman of the victim, began contacting her children, demanding a ransom of six million Naira (N6,000,000.00).”
“Upon his arrest, which followed credible intelligence reports, Okoye confessed to kidnapping Mrs. Nwatu on September 14, 2024, around 8:00 a.m. He stated that the victim came to their house to look for his mother when he kidnapped, murdered, and buried her in a shallow grave inside an uncompleted building in the compound.”
According to Ndukwe, “Ikechukwu Okoye also confessed to demanding a ransom from the victim’s children, initially asking for six million Naira (N6,000,000.00), which was later negotiated to three million Naira (N3,000,000.00).
“He eventually received payment of twenty thousand Naira (N20,000.00), which was for him to allow the children to hear their mother’s voice via the phone before further payments.
“On her part, Juliet Ogbodo, who is Okoye’s intimate girlfriend, confessed to being aware of the crime but failed to report it to the police or any other relevant authorities.
“The victim’s remains have been exhumed and deposited at a mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The suspects, along with any other individuals found complicit in this heinous crime, will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
