Three Arrested, Including Native Doctor, for Kidnapping and Murder of 19-Year-Old Undergraduate in Edo

The arrest of a 26-year-old native doctor, Chukwuyem Jonah, and two others for the alleged murder of Miss Faith Omodon, a 200-level student of Delta State University, Agbor, Delta State, has been announced by the Edo State Police Command.

State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, revealed this during a press conference in Benin City, where the native doctor and 11 other suspects were paraded. The two additional suspects involved in the killing of the undergraduate are Godspower Chukwuedo, 23, and Christopher Nwachukwu, 22.

The community of Iru Egbede had reported the student missing after she failed to return from the farm. The 19-year-old undergraduate student of Business Administration was last seen on March 30, 2024, before her unfortunate demise.

The suspects were apprehended by the State Criminal Investigation Department in collaboration with a vigilante group. The investigation revealed that the suspects were sent by the native doctor to kidnap the victim and demand ransom from her wealthy father.

Adegboye reported that the traditional healer had assured the other two suspects of a payment of N30,000 for the abduction of the deceased student.

He elaborated that the suspects admitted to strangling her to death as she resisted their actions.

The commissioner detailed that the authorities conducted a raid on the Iru community on May 7, 2024, around 9:00 p.m., leading to the arrest of the traditional healer, Chukwuyem Jonah, at his residence.

He mentioned that efforts were underway to locate the victim’s body through an ongoing investigation, with plans to prosecute the suspects for murder.

In an interview, Godspower Chukwuedo and Christopher Nwachukwu, who confessed to the crime, revealed that they were hired by Chukwuyem Jonah to carry out the kidnapping.

The pair, unfamiliar with the victim, shared that the traditional healer directed them to a farm, informing them that she would return home during the Easter season.

Christopher Nwachukwu, a farmer from Agbor, disclosed that he was recruited by Godspower Chukwuedo, a bricklayer from Benin City, for the task.

They recounted leaving the victim unconscious with the traditional healer after strangling her, taking her motorcycle and mobile phone before departing.

Chukwuyem Jonah, the traditional healer, denied any involvement in the crime and claimed no knowledge of the other two suspects.

The father of the deceased, Edward Omodon, expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident, emphasizing his familiarity with the traditional healer and urging government agencies to ensure justice is served for his daughter’s murder.