The Enugu State Police Command has detained 33-year-old Ikechukwu Okoye and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, on suspicion of kidnapping and killing Mrs. Mary Nwatu, 70.After killing the victim and burying her in a shallow grave, the suspects—both from Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state—allegedly demanded N6 million in ransom from her children.
In Enugu, A Man And His Girlfriend Were Arrested For Abduction And Killing Of A 70-Year-Old Woman.
They were apprehended after receiving N20,000 from the family, ostensibly to facilitate a phone call with the victim.DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s spokesperson, revealed in a statement released Thursday evening that the arrest was executed by the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad of the command in response to reliable intelligence.
Ndukwe claims that initial enquiries showed that on September 15, 2024, Mrs. Nwatu was reported missing.”On October 5, 2024, the victim’s kinsman and main suspect, Ikechukwu Okoye, called her kids and demanded an N6 million ransom,” Ndukwe said.After being taken into custody, Okoye allegedly admitted to the crime.
On September 14, 2024, at around eight in the morning, he confessed to kidnapping Mrs. Nwatu when she arrived at their home to search for his mother.
According to the police officer, “he further confessed to killing her and burying her in a shallow grave inside an unfinished building in the compound.”Additionally, the suspect acknowledged that he had demanded N6 million in ransom from the victim’s children, then lowered his demand to N3 million.He did, however, agree to take N20,000 as a down payment in exchange for the family listening to their mother’s voice on the phone before they could continue to make payments.
During questioning, Okoye’s girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, also admitted to knowing about the crime but said she was afraid to tell the police.Since then, the remains of the victim have been dug up and placed in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.Ndukwe promised everyone that after the investigations were finished, the suspects and any other people who were discovered to have been complicit would be arraigned in court.
Ndukwe declared, “The Enugu State Police Command is still dedicated to making sure the victim and her family receive justice.”
