Anambra Police Arrest Shrine Chief Priest and Three Others Over Murder of Cameroonian Women
The Anambra State Police Command has made significant progress in a high-profile murder case, arresting four additional suspects, including a shrine chief priest, in connection with the brutal killing of three Cameroonian women. This development follows intensive investigations and confessions from previously detained individuals.
Details of the Arrests and Investigation
According to a statement released on Monday, February 16, 2025, by Police Public Relations Officer Tochukwu Ikenga, the latest arrests were made based on information provided by two suspects already in custody. The victims, identified as Bognou Alice, her niece Sandra, and another woman, were kidnapped on November 10, 2025, while on a business trip. Tragically, they were murdered after their families paid ransom to the abductors.
The bodies of Alice and Sandra were later recovered from the Omambala River in Anambra West after an extensive search operation. The police have now identified the four newly arrested suspects as:
- Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, also known as "Ugoebenajah," aged 27, alleged to be the Chief Priest of a shrine
- Nwabunne Bright, 27 years old
- Chinecherem Chiama, 21 years old
- Michael Ekwunife, 38 years old
Police Operation and Recovery of Evidence
The police operation, which took place on February 13, 2026, in the Nando community of Anambra East Local Government Area, was both dramatic and productive. Acting on intelligence from earlier confessions, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu mobilized to a shrine identified as a criminal hideout.
Upon approaching the shrine, officers encountered approximately thirty armed men gathered at the premises. The suspects opened fire on the police, leading to a fierce gun battle. During the confrontation, one of the arrested suspects sustained a bullet injury to the thigh and was promptly taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Despite the resistance, police managed to apprehend the four suspects while recovering significant evidence, including:
- Two pump-action guns
- One locally made Beretta pistol
- One machete
- Assorted criminal charms
- Expanded ammunition
- Ten live cartridges
- Five live 9mm ammunition
Ongoing Investigation and Manhunt
Police confirmed that the prime suspect, Uchenna Mmaduamaka Nicholas, a native of Oroma Etiti Anam, escaped along with other gang members during the gun battle, reportedly sustaining bullet wounds. The arrested suspects are currently undergoing interrogation as authorities intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal gang.
In his statement, PPRO Ikenga reiterated the command's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Anambra State. He urged members of the public to continue providing useful information that could aid ongoing investigations, promising that further developments would be communicated in due course.
This case highlights the persistent challenges of kidnapping and violent crime in certain regions, while demonstrating law enforcement's determination to bring perpetrators to justice through coordinated operations and community cooperation.
