The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 33-year-old Ikechukwu Okoye and his 39-year-old girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, for the alleged abduction and murder of a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Mary Nwatu. The suspects, both from Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, reportedly killed the victim, buried her in a shallow grave, and then demanded a ransom of ₦6 million from her children.
The arrest followed credible intelligence gathered by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad. According to DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s spokesperson, Mrs. Nwatu was reported missing on September 15, 2024. Preliminary investigations revealed that Okoye, a kinsman of the victim, abducted her on September 14, 2024, when she visited his house to look for his mother. He later confessed to killing her and burying her in an uncompleted building on the property.
Okoye contacted the victim’s children on October 5, 2024, demanding a ransom of ₦6 million. After negotiating, he reduced the demand to ₦3 million but accepted an initial payment of ₦20,000 in exchange for allowing the family to hear their mother’s voice over the phone. However, the plan unraveled when Okoye and his accomplice, Ogbodo, were arrested.
Ogbodo admitted during interrogation that she knew about the crime but failed to report it due to fear. The victim’s remains were exhumed and sent for preservation and autopsy.
DSP Ndukwe assured the public that the suspects, and any other individuals involved, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, emphasizing the command’s commitment to securing justice for Mrs. Nwatu and her family.
