The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old native doctor, Chukwuyem Jonah, and two others for the alleged killing of one Miss Faith Omodon, a 200-level student of Delta State University, Agbor, Delta State.
The State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin City while parading the native doctor and 11 other suspects.
The two other suspects involved in the killing of the undergraduate are Godspower Chukwuedo, 23, and Christopher Nwachukwu, 22.
On April 4, 2024, Daily Post reported that the people of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State had declared the undergraduate student missing, several days after she did not return from the farm.
The community reported that the 19-year-old undergraduate student of Business Administration was last seen on March 30, 2024, before her untimely death.
The Commissioner of Police who paraded the suspects before newsmen, said they were arrested by the operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department in collaboration with operatives of a vigilante group.
According to him, on April 1, 2024, one Faith Omodon, a 200 level student of Delta State University, Agbor, who went to the farm in Ewohon/Uwemen community in Edo State with a Lifan CG 125 motorcycle and never returned, was declared missing on account of her father, one Edward Omodon’s report to Abudu Division, Edo State.
“After a preliminary investigation was conducted by Abudu Division, the case was transferred to State CID, Benin.
“The State CID operatives while collaborating with the vigilante group arrested two suspects, Godspower Chukwuedo, 23 years, and Christopher Nwachukwu, 22 years.
“The suspects made statements to the Police and confessed that they were sent by one Chukwuyem Jonah, 26 years, a native doctor who lives in Iru community near Abudu, Edo State, to go after Faith Omodon in the farm and kidnap her to enable them collect ransom from her rich father,” he said.
Adegboye said the native doctor promised the two other suspects the sum of N30,000 for the abduction of the late student.
He added that the suspects confessed that they strangulated her to death while she was resisting them.
He further explained that on May 7, 2024 at about 9:00 pm, the operatives stormed Iru community and arrested the native doctor, Chukwuyem Jonah, in his house.
The commissioner, who stated that investigation has commenced in order to recover her corpse, said the suspects would soon be charged to court for murder.
In an interview, Godspower Chukwuedo and Christopher Nwachukwu, who confessed to the crime, said they were contracted by Chukwuuem Jonah, the native doctor to kidnap the girl.
The duo, who said they didn’t know the girl before, disclosed that the native doctor took them to the farm and also told them that she would come home during Easter period.
Christopher Nwachukwu, who said he is a farmer based in Agbor, disclosed that he was contracted by Godspower Chukwuedo, a bricklayer based in Benin City, for the job.
They explained that after they strangulated the girl, they left her unconscious with the native doctor.
They also added that they went away with her motorcycle and her mobile phone.
On her part, the native doctor, Chukwuuem Jonah, denied any involvement in the crime.
He also denied knowing the two other suspects.
Also speaking, the father of the deceased, Edward Omodon, who described the incident as unfortunate, said he only knew the native doctor.
“I know Chukwuuem Jonah, very well, we stayed together. I see him everyday,” he said.
He called on relevant government agencies to ensure that justice prevails in the murder of his daughter.
“I want justice. I want them to pay for the killing of my daughter. I don’t want my daughter to die like that without any action from the government,” he added.