In a shocking and disturbing case, the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended four individuals in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old female student of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State.
The victim, a 100-level student of the Biology Department, was kidnapped and brutally killed by a 21-year-old man and his accomplices.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, revealed the details of the case during a press briefing in Lokoja.
According to Ovye-Aya, the police received a complaint from the victim’s father, Stephen Oluwoyo, on September 4, reporting that his daughter was missing and uncontactable.
The father further stated that he received a ransom demand from an unknown number, claiming that his daughter had been abducted.
Acting swiftly, the police operatives, assisted by the Technical Intelligence Unit from the Force Headquarters, tracked and arrested the main suspect, Jeremiah Paul-Awe, a resident of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on September 11.
During interrogation, Paul-Awe confessed to kidnapping and killing the victim on September 4 at approximately 8:30 pm.
He admitted to drugging and strangling the victim before mutilating her corpse by removing her eyes, lungs, liver, tongue, intestines, and other body parts.
The suspect then dumped the corpse in a bush.
Paul-Awe further revealed that he contacted the victim’s father, demanding a ransom, despite having already killed her.
The unsuspecting father sent N400,000 as ransom, unaware of his daughter’s fate.
Following Paul-Awe’s arrest, he led the police to the crime scene, where the corpse was recovered and transported to the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja mortuary for autopsy.
Further investigation led to the arrest of three additional suspects, who were identified as Paul-Awe’s friends and accomplices in the crime.
According to Paul-Awe’s confession, he was motivated by a desire to perform money rituals, which he learned about from a native doctor he met on TikTok.
The suspect claimed that the native doctor required specific human body parts for the ritual, leading him to commit the heinous crime.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the four suspects will be arraigned in court once the investigation is complete.
This disturbing case highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance regarding online platforms and the potential for exploitation by unscrupulous individuals.
The police commend the public for their cooperation and assure that justice will be served in this tragic and senseless murder.
