Police Arrest Principal Suspect In Burning, Killing Of 74-Year-Old Anambra Woman In Wheelchair

The Anambra State Police Command has announced the arrest of the principal suspect in the case involving the death of a 74-year-old woman, Alice Anene, who was in a wheelchair and burnt to death in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Command's Public Relations Officer, stated in a brief announcement issued in Awka, the state capital, that the 33-year-old principal suspect, identified as Obinna Anene of Amene Village, Abagana, was arrested on Tuesday and is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide SCID Section Awka for debriefing.

Ikenga said, “The suspect: Obinna Anene 'm' aged 33yrs of Amene Village, Abagana, who was mentioned as the principal suspect in the case of burning and killing of a 74-year-old woman, Alice Anene, at Abagana on 27/01/2025, has been arrested.

“He is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide SCID Section Awka for a debrief.”

SaharaReporters had reported that operatives of the Command arrested four suspects, including a 21-year-old woman, Chinyere Ekwenugo, in connection with the murder of the 74-year-old woman.

The other three suspects are Uzochukwu Okeke (47), Fidel Anayo (60), and Ikenna Anene (54), all from Abagana.

Ikenga earlier said police operatives from the Abagana Divisional Police Headquarters had recovered the victim's charred remains, a wheelchair, and a casket from the crime scene.

The police spokesperson had said, "Our operatives acted swiftly to apprehend the suspects and secure evidence. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing prime suspect.

“During interrogation by the police operatives, the suspect, Chinenye Ekwenugo confessed that her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Igwe, who is currently at large and three others set the victim ablaze.

“They brought a casket to bury her before the intervention of the security operatives.”