A suspected notorious criminal, identified as Anthony Okwori, has been arrested in Orokam district, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, months after he allegedly killed his stepsister and her son.
The suspect was apprehended by a local vigilante group known as the Okalego, following a manhunt. He is accused of involvement in multiple criminal activities, including kidnapping and drug supply to bandits.
Okwori had been on the run since August 13, 2025, after a deadly incident in which he allegedly led a gang to his stepsister's residence in the Adepe Ejema area of Orokam in an attempted abduction. According to sources, the suspect and his gang stormed the residence at midnight, targeting the woman’s son who had reportedly arrived from Abuja earlier that day.
The attempted kidnapping was resisted, leading to a violent confrontation. During the attack, the assailants allegedly opened fire, killing the woman, identified as Mrs. Anthonia Shuaibu, and her son, Gabriel, on the spot. A younger son, who sustained injuries, was rushed to a hospital in Enugu, where he survived.
The suspect reportedly fled the community in the early hours of August 14, before security operatives arrived. While some individuals were earlier arrested in connection with the incident, including a suspect found with a rifle and ammunition, Okwori remained at large.
In a statement, the vigilante group said intelligence reports recently indicated that the suspect had returned to the area. “He had remained on the run since then. A few days ago, information got to us that he was sighted in Ejema. After sustained tracking, he was finally apprehended after a struggle,” the group said.
The group confirmed that the suspect has been handed over to the police, with officers commending their efforts and describing the operation as a result of “superior intelligence and gallantry.”
