Student’s Murder in Nigeria: Four Arrested, including Prime Suspect
The Nigerian police have made a significant breakthrough in the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old female student of the Federal University Lokoja, Federal University of Lokoja (FUL). The student, a 100 Level Biology student, was kidnapped and killed by a 21-year-old man, Jeremiah Paul-Awe, who has been arrested along with three of his friends.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the police received a complaint from Stephen Oluwoyo, the father of the deceased, stating that his daughter was missing and could not be reached. Further investigation led to the discovery of an unknown number, which sent a message demanding a ransom for the daughter’s release.
The police promptly responded to the intelligence, trailed and arrested the suspect, Paul-Awe, on September 11. During interrogation, he confessed to kidnapping and killing the victim on September 4 at 2030 hours. Paul-Awe revealed that he had planned the crime with his friends, who aided him in committing the murder.
The suspect also disclosed that after killing the victim, he placed a call to the father, demanding a ransom to enable him meet up with the requirements for a ritual from a native doctor he met on TikTok. The father, unaware of his daughter’s death, sent N400,000 as ransom to the suspect for her release.
Following Paul-Awe’s arrest, he led the police to the scene where the corpse was recovered and deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja mortuary for autopsy. Further investigation led to the arrest of the three other suspects, who are also charged with the crime.
The police have promised to arraign the four suspects in court once their investigation is complete. This development has brought relief to the family and friends of the victim, who had been grappling with the brutal murder.