Hyacinth Chinweuba/Richard Ginika Izuora
The Police have arrested three brothers who allegedly murdered a woman identified as Janet Ogbonnaya in Abuja.
This was disclosed by Mr Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police Force.
Mba, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that the suspects from Isiekenesi; in Ideato Local Government area of Imo State are helping Police investigation into the May 14 murder of Mrs Janet Ogbonnaya; a mother of five children.
He said that the suspects were arrested by the Police in their home town; where they had allegedly taken refuge after committing the crime in Abuja, to evade arrest.
Mba said that investigation that led to their arrest followed complaints by one Chinedu Ogbonnaya, who alleged that his mother, Janet, 55; a native of Ozuitem in Bende Local Government Area of Abia, had been kidnapped.
Ogbonnaya told the Police that N5 million ransom was being demanded by the kidnappers to secure the mother’s release.
“A comprehensive and painstaking investigation by Police operatives resulted in the arrest of the three suspects; who, in the course of interrogation, revealed that the victim had long been murdered and buried.
“Further findings revealed that the victim, a widow, who had been a Facebook friend of the principal suspect; was lured from her home in Gwagwalada, Abuja to visit the suspect. The suspect took advantage of the visit, served her milk laced with drugs, and subsequently murdered her,” he said.
Further, he revealed that the victim, Janet Ogbonnaya, was buried in a septic tank. Thereafter, the suspects went ahead to reach out to the family, using her phone; to demand N5 million ransom to secure her release.
Mba said that the suspects, on Thursday, led a team of investigators alongside pathologists to a residence at Wumba District; Lokogoma area of Abuja, where the victim’s decomposing body was exhumed from a septic tank.
The spokesman said that the exhumed body had been taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital; for forensic examination, while a Toyota Highlander Jeep belonging to the deceased had also been recovered at a mechanic workshop. The workshop is located in Apo. However, the vehicle had been repainted into a different colour.
Mba added that the vehicle documents had been fraudulently changed; with ownership of the stolen vehicle criminally transferred to one of the masterminds of the crime.
The Police spokesman revealed that investigation also revealed that the house where the deceased was killed and buried; originally belonged to one of the suspects. However, it was hurriedly sold to a third party to obliterate evidence.
“Already, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has commended the team of Police operatives for a job well done. He has also pledged that perpetrators of crimes will not go undetected and unpunished.
“The Police helmsman has also enjoined citizens to be more security conscious and report any suspicious activities within their neighbourhood to the nearest Police Station,” the statement said.