Crime
Three Teenagers Allegedly Held Captive, Tortured for Three Months Escape from Enugu Estate
Three teenagers who were allegedly abducted, confined and subjected to months of torture have been rescued after escaping from a residence in Heliu Estate along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu State.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on June 11, 2026, has sparked outrage among residents and human rights advocates, with calls for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
According to a petition submitted to Governor Peter Mbah by the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), the victims identified as Joseph Ibangwu, Izuchukwu Junior and Miracle Tochukwu were discovered by residents after fleeing from a house within the estate where they had allegedly been held against their will since March 16, 2026.
Residents who encountered the teenagers said they appeared weak, malnourished and bore visible wounds and scars allegedly resulting from repeated physical abuse.
The teenagers reportedly told security
officials that they had been brought from Ebonyi State under the promise of employment at a business operated by a resident of the estate. However, upon arrival, they were allegedly locked inside a room, had their mobile phones confiscated and were prevented from leaving the premises.
They further alleged that they were fed only once daily, mainly with plain rice, and were subjected to frequent beatings. Their movements were said to have been monitored through surveillance cameras installed around the house.
According to the petition, the teenagers seized an opportunity to escape when their alleged captor reportedly forgot to lock the door. They ran from the building and sought help from residents of the estate.
Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who maintain a security post within the estate, reportedly took custody of the teenagers and arrested a suspect in connection with the incident.
The victims were subsequently taken to a medical facility for treatment due to the severity of their injuries.
The matter has since been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu for further investigation.
In its petition, CRRAN condemned the alleged acts, describing them as a “heinous crime” and a violation of human rights. The organisation called on the Enugu State Government to ensure that all those involved are identified, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the allegations as investigations continue.
The Anambra State Police Command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the suspected murder of a 23-year-old nursing student whose lifeless body was discovered in her residence in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The tragic incident occurred on June 14, 2026, and prompted immediate police intervention after the young woman was found dead within the compound where she lived as a tenant. She was later identified as a student of the College of Nursing Sciences, Alor.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, to take over the case and conduct a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Police operatives who visited the scene observed a deep cut on the victim’s thigh, visible signs of violence on her body, and blood stains around the premises, raising strong suspicions of foul play.
As part of ongoing investigations, the landlord of the property has been taken into custody and is currently being questioned by detectives. The deceased’s body has been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Ordering an accelerated investigation, CP Orutugu charged detectives to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
“Expedite action on the investigation into this case and ensure that the circumstances surrounding her death are uncovered without delay,” the police commissioner said.
He further warned against any lapses in the investigation, stressing that anyone found culpable would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“Leave no stone unturned in uncovering the facts and ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” he added.
The commissioner reassured residents of the command’s commitment to justice and urged members of the public with useful information to come forward and assist investigators.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on June 18, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
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.
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