Couple arrested for murdering 70-year-old woman and demanding ransom

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the couple was arrested following a thorough investigation and credible intelligence.

The suspects, who are in their 30s and 40s, respectively, were found to have killed Mrs. Nwatu and buried her in a shallow grave.

They then demanded a ransom of N6 million from her children, claiming that she was still alive.

The police spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, revealed that the couple was apprehended after receiving N20,000 from the family, ostensibly to facilitate a phone call with the victim.

However, it was later discovered that Mrs. Nwatu had been murdered, and her body was buried in a shallow grave.

This heinous crime has sent shockwaves through the community, and the police have vowed to ensure that justice is served.

The couple is currently in custody and faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. The police are also investigating whether there were any accomplices involved in the crime.

“On October 5, 2024, the principal suspect, Ikechukwu Okoye, who is also a kinsman of the victim, contacted her children, demanding a ransom of N6 million.

“He admitted abducting Mrs. Nwatu on September 14, 2024, at about 8 am when she came to their house to look for his mother.

“The suspect also admitted to demanding a ransom from the victim’s children, initially requesting N6 million before negotiating down to N3 million.

“However, he accepted an initial payment of N20,000 on the condition that the family would hear their mother’s voice over the phone before making further payments.”