Two in police net over rape, murder of Imo nursing student

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects, Onyema Okonkwo and Emmanuel Onyekachi, over the alleged rape and murder of a 21-year-old nursing student, Wendy Achumba, in Umuadara Umulogho, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.

This came as the traditional ruler of Umuadara Umulogho, Eze Patrick Uwalaka, alongside members of the community where the nursing school is located and where the deceased lived in an off-campus apartment, publicly denounced the killing and dissociated themselves from the crime.

Until her death last Thursday, Wendy was a student of Our Lady of Mercy Nursing School, Obowo, where she was undergoing post-basic training in midwifery.

The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, said on Sunday that operatives of the Obowo Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with community stakeholders, arrested the two suspects following intelligence-led investigations into the incident.

Okoye disclosed that 32-year-old Onyema Okonkwo confessed to raping and killing the victim in an attempt to cover up the crime.

He added that the suspect also implicated 25-year-old Emmanuel Onyekachi as an accomplice, alleging that both men killed the student after she recognised them.

According to him, the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.

Okoye said, “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.

“During the 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.

“The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and comprehensive investigation and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu 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.”

Meanwhile, Eze Uwalaka and members of the community on Sunday gathered at the village square to condemn the killing and invoke traditional sanctions against the perpetrators.

The monarch said the community had no involvement in the incident and reaffirmed that Umulogho remained peaceful and safe for residents.

He also urged anyone with prior knowledge of the crime to come forward and speak up.

“We, the people of Umulogho, are here to denounce this wicked act. We know nothing about it, and we exonerate ourselves and the land from any repercussions. Let the gods deal with the perpetrators.

“Our land is safe, and we are good people. If anyone has prior knowledge of this act, such a person should come forward before the wrath of the deities,” the monarch said.

Also speaking, the president of Umulogho Youths, Chidiebere Iweajunwa, commended the role played by the community youth body in aiding the arrest of the suspects and called for speedy prosecution.

“The arrest of the suspects, which was aided by the community youth body, is a breakthrough in the ongoing investigation, and we call for speedy prosecution and justice for the deceased student,” he said.