Emeh Kalu, the husband of the deceased and the principal suspect
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested four suspects in connection with the abduction and gruesome killing of late Nneka Kalu, who was earlier reported missing and later found dead in a cassava farm on August 29, 2021, in Ngugworo Community, Nguzu Edda, in Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State.
Public Relations officer of Nigeria Police Force, CP Frank Mba, said in a statement that the suspects arrested include, Irem Ifeanyi Mbah, Igwe Anya Chima, Okorie Okam and Emeh Kalu, the husband of the deceased and principal suspect.
The suspects are within the age bracket of 25-40 yrs and all native of Nguzu Edda village in Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State.
CP Mba said Investigations into the death of the victim followed complaint received from the people of Ngugworo community, Ebonyi State, a border town to Abia State, where the victim resided, before her decomposing body was discovered in their community.
The discrete investigations carried out by the Police team led to the arrest of the four suspects.
“Investigations by the Police team revealed that Emeh Kalu, the husband of the deceased, in a bid to fraudulently and hastily ‘inherit’ his wife’s numerous assets, including landed property, houses, money in bank and thriving business, etc, procured the services of five other criminal elements to stage the abduction of his wife by luring her to meet him at a junction to pick up some things for the house,” CP Mba recounted.
Investigations further revealed how the criminals strangled her to death after obtaining necessary information on the whereabouts of title documents and other relevant papers of her possessions, the Police spokesman added.
Efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects and persons indicted in the matter with a view to concluding the investigations.
The Force, while condoling with the family of the deceased, enjoined families and relatives to be their “brother’s keeper” and provide prompt information to the Police, which, it stressed, would be helpful in proactively containing crimes and all forms of gender-based violence.
The Police promised to arraign all the suspects in court on completion of investigation.
Writing by Adeniyi Bakare; Editing by Tony Okerafor