The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two individuals suspected to be involved in the rape and murder of a 21-year-old student nurse. The victim, Miss Wendy Achumba, was a student at Mercy College of Nursing Science, Umulogho, located in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State. Her lifeless body was discovered in her rented off-campus apartment last week after concerns were raised about her disappearance. The body has since been deposited in a morgue.
Arrests Made Following Investigations
In a statement released on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, revealed that operatives from the Obowo Divisional Headquarters, in collaboration with community stakeholders, apprehended the suspects after what he described as sustained and discreet investigations. The suspects have been identified as Onyema Okonkwo, aged 32, and Emmanuel Onyekachi, aged 25, both indigenes of Umuadara, Umulogho, in Obowo LGA.
Confession and Details of the Crime
According to the statement, one of the suspects, Onyema Okonkwo, allegedly confessed during interrogation that he raped the victim multiple times before killing her in an attempt to conceal the crime. The statement read in part: “Operatives of the Obowo Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with community stakeholders, have arrested two suspects allegedly connected with the rape and murder of Wendy Achumba, aged 21, a Post-Basic Nursing student of Mercy College of Nursing Science, Umulogho, whose lifeless body was discovered in her private off-campus residence at Umuadara, Umulogho in Obowo LGA. The suspects, Onyema Okonkwo, aged 32, and Emmanuel Onyekachi, aged 25, both indigenes of Umuadara, Umulogho, were arrested following sustained intelligence-led investigative efforts by operatives of the division in synergy with community stakeholders.”
Okoye, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), further stated: “During investigation, Onyema Okonkwo confessed to the killing of the victim after forcibly having unlawful carnal knowledge of her on multiple occasions in an attempt to conceal his crime, and further implicated Emmanuel Onyekachi as being involved in the matter.”
Suspects Transferred for Further Investigation
The police spokesperson said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution. He added that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, has assured the public that the matter would be handled professionally and that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law. “To this end, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, assures the public that the matter is being handled with utmost diligence and professionalism, and that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” the statement added. The command said further updates would be communicated as the investigations progress.
