Society Column Editor
By Gite Igiehon
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested two suspects in connection with the gruesome kidnap and murder of a female banker, despite her family paying a ₦14 million ransom for her release.
The victim, identified as a senior staff member of a commercial bank in Anambra, was reportedly abducted in the state capital, Awka, last month. According to police sources, she was lured under the pretext of a business meeting, only to be taken captive by a criminal gang.
In a disturbing twist, it was revealed that the kidnappers collected ₦14 million in ransom from the family before proceeding to kill the victim. Her decomposed body was discovered days later in a shallow grave within a remote forested area of the state.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement released to the press on Saturday. He disclosed that the two suspects were apprehended during a covert operation following a painstaking investigation that involved intelligence gathering and phone tracking.
“Our officers, acting on credible intelligence, tracked down and arrested two suspects who have now confessed to being part of the syndicate responsible for the kidnapping and murder,” Ikenga said. “What is particularly heartbreaking is that even after receiving a ₦14 million ransom, they still went ahead to kill the victim. This is not only criminal but deeply wicked and inhuman.”
According to the police, the suspects are currently in custody and are cooperating with investigators. Efforts are underway to arrest other members of the gang still at large.
The arrest has sparked outrage and sorrow across the community, with many calling for swift justice. Civil society groups and women’s rights advocates have condemned the act, describing it as a growing threat to safety and trust in the region.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has assured the public that the police will pursue the case to a logical conclusion and ensure that all perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
He also urged residents to be cautious and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station, emphasizing the command’s commitment to combating crime in the state.
The tragic incident adds to a growing list of kidnap-for-ransom cases across Nigeria, raising concerns about the security of citizens, particularly professionals targeted by criminal syndicates.
