Councillor Arrested Over Murder Of 17-Year Old Girl In Kogi

NPFThe police in Kogi have arrested a councillor, representing Ofu Local Government, over the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Igbere Ogbadu.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, told reporters on Thursday in Lokoja that the councillor and three other suspects allegedly committed the offence on June 13.

Mr. Opara said that the suspects allegedly confessed to have lured the girl from her parents’ home to a bush on Achigili-Afoja road, where she was murdered.

The commissioner said the decomposing and headless body of the girl was found on June 21 by some residents at Achigili-Afoja area, and who later alerted the police. He explained that one of the suspects had approached the deceased’s home at Ofoju community at about 10:00 p.m to inform her that the councillor wanted to see her.

According to the commissioner, the victim obliged and was taken on a motorcycle to the councillor and later murdered. He said that the police were working on the theory that Ms. Igbere, an admission seeker, might have been used for rituals.

The commissioner also paraded an 89-year-old man and his son and three others, over an alleged kidnap of a traditional ruler, the Onuh of Ejule, Simeon Shaibu, sometime in June.

Mr. Opara said that the suspects took Mr. Shaibu on a motorcycle to a forest, from where the traditional ruler was later rescued and the 89-year-old man arrested. He said that his men also arrested one of the suspects on June 24 at Chari Maigumeri Military Barracks in Lokoja, while on a queue to enlist in the Nigerian Army.

The police boss said that further enquiries led to the arrest of other members of the gang. He said the suspects allegedly confessed that the traditional ruler was kidnapped on the allegation that he allowed the police to arrest a suspect.

The commissioner said that all the suspects would be charged to court soon.

(NAN)