By Adadareporters
Two lovers, Ikechukwu Okoye, male, 33, and Juliet Ogbodo, female, 39, both of Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, have been arrested over alleged kidnapping and murder of a woman.
They were alleged to have murdered and buried one Mrs Mary Nwatu, 70, in a shallow grave sometime in September 2024. Police sources said 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 kinsman of the victim, began contacting her children, demanding a ransom of N6m,” Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, stated in a release.
Ndukwe added that, “Upon his arrest, which followed credible intelligence reports, Okoye confessed to kidnapping Mrs Nwatu on September 14, 2024, around 8am.”
According to the release, Ikechukwu Okoye also confessed to demanding a ransom from the victim’s children, initially asking for N6m, which was later negotiated to N3m.
The release added, “He eventually received payment of N20,000, 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 were exhumed and deposited at a mortuary for preservation and autopsy, it was gathered.
The PPRO said the suspects, along with any other individuals found complicit in this heinous crime, would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
