The police in Anambra State have arrested two men suspected of killing a 33-year-old married woman in Oraifite, a community in Njikoka Local Government Area. The suspects were identified as Thankgod Ikwugwara, 26, and Makuochukwu Uzoigwe, 20.
Police Statement on Arrests
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, a superintendent of police, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. The latest development occurred days after a 33-year-old man, Ifechukwu Okechukwu, allegedly murdered and secretly buried his 23-year-old girlfriend in the same South-eastern state.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to Mr Ikenga, the mother of the deceased reported at the Oraifite Police Headquarters on 13 March that her daughter was missing. The following day, the body of the victim was found inside a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop at Oraifite. The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for comprehensive investigation. Leveraging intelligence and digital forensic leads, police operatives arrested the two suspects on 6th June 2026 after sustained efforts.
Suspects Confess to Murder
Mr Ikenga stated that Mr Ikwugwara, the prime suspect, and Mr Uzoigwe confessed to the crime during interrogation. The prime suspect claimed to have been in a romantic relationship with the deceased for about three years but was unaware that she was married. He further claimed that after a disagreement with the deceased's husband, he developed a strange illness that affected his sight. Out of resentment, he plotted the deadly attack by luring the deceased to his residence under the pretext of seeking medical help. Upon her arrival, he and the second suspect allegedly attacked her with a machete, resulting in her death. The suspects then disposed of the body in a culvert near Jesus Bus Stop, Oraifite, in the early hours of the following day.
Legal Proceedings and Police Commitment
Mr Ikenga said the suspects would be charged in court with murder upon conclusion of the investigation. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, praised the police operatives for their resilience and professionalism in uncovering the crime after three months of investigation. He reaffirmed the police's commitment to ensuring justice for the slain victim. Murder is outlawed under Section 315(6) of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, and offenders face a death sentence upon conviction, according to Section 319(1). Several persons have been sentenced to death for murder across the country, including Adelake Bara in Ogun State in June 2022 and Muritala Dare in Kogi State in January 2022.
