Crime
Two Arrested Over Murder of 33-Year-Old Woman in Anambra
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old woman whose body was dumped in a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Thankgod Ikechukwu Ikwugwara, 26, and Makuochukwu Uzoigwe, 20, were allegedly involved in the killing of the woman on March 13, 2026, after luring her to a residence under the guise of seeking her assistance.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, revealing that the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following intelligence gathering and digital forensic investigations.
According to the statement, the case began on March 13, 2026, when the victim’s mother reported her missing at the Oraifite Divisional Police Headquarters.
The statement read in part: “The Anambra State Police Command has successfully unravelled the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and murder of a 33-year-old woman and arrested two suspects in connection with the crime in Oraifite.
“The suspects, both males, are Thankgod Ikechukwu Ikwugwara, 26, and Makuochukwu Uzoigwe, 20.
“The case originated on March 13, 2026, when the deceased’s mother reported her missing at the Oraifite Divisional Police Headquarters.
“The following day, March 14, 2026, the lifeless body of an unidentified woman was discovered inside a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite. The deceased’s father later identified the body as that of his missing daughter.”
Ikenga explained that the case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a thorough investigation. Through sustained intelligence gathering and digital forensic analysis, detectives were able to track down and arrest the suspects on June 6, 2026.
During interrogation, the principal suspect, Ikwugwara, allegedly confessed to masterminding the crime. He claimed he had been in a relationship with the deceased for about three years and was unaware that she was married.
The suspect further alleged that following a disagreement with the deceased’s husband, he developed a strange illness that affected his eyesight. Driven by resentment, he allegedly plotted the attack.
According to the police, Ikwugwara confessed that he lured the woman to his residence on March 13 under the pretext of seeking assistance due to his health condition.
Upon her arrival, he and the second suspect allegedly attacked her with a machete, resulting in her death. The suspects subsequently disposed of her body in a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite, during the early hours of the following day.
The police said both suspects have confessed to their roles in the crime and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the detectives for their professionalism, resilience, and dedication in unravelling the case.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime and sustaining efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
The victim, identified as Solomon James, a native of Kogi State, was reportedly shot dead during an encounter involving military personnel.
Sources said the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. while the deceased was conveying kegs of diesel in his vehicle.
Eyewitnesses alleged that a soldier riding a motorcycle pursued the driver for some distance before opening fire on the vehicle near the D-Choice area of Ore.
According to witnesses, the gunshots struck the driver, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, which subsequently veered off the highway and crashed into a nearby bush.
The witnesses further claimed that the soldier and other military personnel involved in the incident left the scene immediately after the shooting.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were still unclear as of the time of filing this report, with security authorities yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The development sparked concern among residents and commuters, many of whom called for a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ensure that those found culpable are held accountable.
A security source, however, confirmed the incident, although further details were not immediately available.
By Chinedu Sabastine
Tension has gripped Obiagu Mpu Community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State following an alleged invasion by armed men from Ishiagu, which reportedly left one person dead and three others injured.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, is said to be linked to a longstanding land dispute between the neighbouring communities.
According to eyewitnesses, the armed men allegedly stormed farmlands in Obiagu Mpu and attacked residents.
A community source alleged that a middle-aged man identified as Orji Ibe was shot dead during the attack, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Ishiagu people allegedly killed a middle-aged man in my community, Obiagu Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, over a prolonged land dispute. The incident happened yesterday,” the source said.
The source identified the injured victims as Anyanta Anyaene, who was allegedly beaten severely; Ndubisi Ajah, who was reportedly beaten into a coma; and Ani Benjamin, who also sustained serious injuries. The victims are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
“Orji Ibe was shot dead, while Anyanta Anyaene was beaten mercilessly. Ndubisi Ajah was beaten into a coma, and Ani Benjamin also sustained severe injuries. They are currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” the source added.
The source described the incident as a tragic escalation of the protracted land dispute and called on security agencies and the Enugu State Government to intervene to prevent further violence.
Reacting to the incident, the traditional ruler of Mpu, Igwe Cletus Udechukwu, condemned the attack, describing it as a desecration of the community’s land.
He called on Governor Peter Mbah and security agencies to intervene and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Also speaking, the President-General of Mpu Town Union Association, Mr. Chijioke Benjamin Ezekwe, described the incident as barbaric and regrettable.
He noted that the attack occurred despite ongoing peace efforts by leaders of both communities and urged residents not to take the law into their hands.
Similarly, the Chairman of Obiagu Community, Dr. Donatus Onu, appealed to security agencies to act swiftly to prevent possible reprisal attacks and restore calm in the area.
Residents said tension remains high in the community, alleging that no government official including the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku and Hon Magus Edeh of the state house of Assembly had visited the area as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described the attack as barbaric and condemned the resort to violence over boundary disputes.
He urged communities to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead embrace dialogue and lawful channels in resolving such issues. Ndukwe added that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The wife of late retired Major General and former Defence spokesman, Rabe Abubakar, was reportedly shot by bandits before being rescued by Nigerian troops in Katsina State.
According to military sources, Mrs. Amina Abubakar was rescued during an operation after security forces engaged the bandits. The attackers allegedly shot her while attempting to flee when troops closed in on their location. She was rescued alive, given first aid, and evacuated for medical treatment.
Rabe Abubakar and his wife were abducted by armed bandits in May while travelling along the Katsina–Matazu road. Their driver escaped despite sustaining gunshot wounds. Security agencies subsequently launched a search-and-rescue operation.
The rescue comes days after the Defence Headquarters confirmed the death of the retired general while in captivity, a development that sparked nationwide concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria’s North-West.
The military has not yet released detailed information on Mrs. Abubakar’s medical condition, but reports indicate she survived the gunshot wound and is receiving treatment.
A Level 200 student of the University of Cape Coast, Vicencia Avinu, has been found dead near a shoreline in Cape Coast, days after she was reported missing following plans to meet a man she reportedly described to friends as a “rich guy.”
Authorities in Ghana have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death after her body was discovered on Saturday along the Cape Coast shoreline, a development that has sent shockwaves through the university community.
According to information obtained from family members and student sources, Vicencia was last seen on Thursday after informing friends that she was going to meet the unidentified man. She failed to return home, and repeated attempts by friends and acquaintances to reach her by phone were unsuccessful.
Concern grew on Friday after extensive efforts to locate her yielded no results, prompting her family to officially declare her missing.
Her body was subsequently discovered on Saturday near the Cape Coast shoreline. Police have confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading to her death and whether she had contact with any individuals before the incident.
Authorities have yet to release forensic findings, and no arrests have been made as investigations continue.
The tragic incident has left students and members of the university community in mourning, while also reigniting discussions about personal safety and the risks associated with meeting unfamiliar individuals.
Police say the case remains a priority and have appealed to members of the public with relevant information to come forward and assist ongoing investigations.
Buratai sounded the alarm on Sunday while reacting to the reported killing of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in bandits’ captivity, describing the incident as a disturbing sign of the growing audacity and operational capacity of criminal groups across the country.
According to the former army chief, the murder of a senior military officer marks a dangerous escalation in the nation’s security challenges and should serve as a wake-up call to government at all levels.
“If this trend continues unchecked, the next targets may not be soldiers or civilians alone. They could include ministers, senators, and even state governors. No leader will be immune,” Buratai warned.
He said the tragic death of the retired general validates concerns he had previously raised about the long-term threat posed by insurgency and banditry if not confronted with sufficient force and strategic coordination.
Recalling an earlier warning he issued in 2021, Buratai said the country is now witnessing the consequences of years of inadequate response to growing insecurity.
“Today, our nation is witnessing the grim unfolding of that prediction. The capture, torture and eventual killing of a senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar, is not merely a tragedy; it marks a dangerous threshold,” he stated.
The former army chief noted that criminal groups have become increasingly sophisticated, operating with improved intelligence networks, access to advanced weaponry and greater confidence in carrying out attacks.
He argued that the current approach to tackling insecurity has failed to deter criminal elements and called for a major shift in strategy.
“The current reactive strategy, paying ransoms and negotiating with criminals, must end. It is time for a full-scale, coordinated military and intelligence offensive,” Buratai said.
As part of his recommendations, he urged the Federal Government to establish a unified security command structure capable of coordinating all security agencies operating in states most affected by insecurity.
“The Federal Government should establish a unified command with direct authority over all security agencies operating in high-risk states, eliminating bureaucratic delays,” he advised.
Buratai also called for a crackdown on individuals and networks that provide logistical and financial support to bandit groups, insisting that security operations must go beyond armed confrontations to target those enabling criminal activities.
“Bandits do not survive on AK-47s alone. They rely on networks of corrupt middlemen, illegal miners, ransom negotiators and local collaborators. These individuals must be identified, arrested and prosecuted. The cost of supporting terrorism should be made unbearable,” he said.
He stressed that only a coordinated national response involving security agencies, intelligence services and political leadership can prevent further deterioration of the security situation and restore public confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.
Buratai’s warning comes amid renewed concerns over escalating attacks by bandits and insurgents in several parts of the country, with security experts increasingly calling for stronger and more coordinated measures to stem the tide of violence.
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