The prime suspect in the murder of Ebonyi student Maxwell Okeke, identified as Ogobuchi Uhuo from Ohankwu village, Ndufu-Alike in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, has been apprehended.
Mr Okeke, a student at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State, was abducted and killed earlier this month by unknown individuals.
Concerns arose at the institution when he was reported missing, and his decomposing body was later found near a river in the community.
Uhuo was apprehended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the Nigerian Police had launched a search for him. Sources indicate that Uhuo had long been a source of fear among students and residents of his community.
Elom Iyke Ubochi, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, identified Uhuo as the prime suspect in the alleged abduction and murder of Mr Okeke in a statement.
“It is with great concern that we inform the university community of the abduction of Magnus Okeke, an extra-year student of the Department of Accountancy on June 1, 2024.
“The incident occurred outside the university campus while on his way back to the private hostel where he resides at Ohankwu village, Ndufu-Alike Community”, Mr Elom said.
He mentioned that the university management, through its Directorate of Security Affairs, has collaborated with the police to crack down on the perpetrators and rescue other captors.
He said that preliminary reports from security agencies indicated that the alleged culprits were criminal youth elements from Ohankwu village led by one Ogobuchi Uhuo, popularly known as OG Royal.
He noted that preliminary reports from security agencies show that the alleged perpetrators of the heinous crime were criminal youth elements from Ohankwu village led by Ogobuchi Uhuo, popularly known as OG Royal.
“The security agencies have apprehended some of those alleged to be involved in the abduction of Magnus and did everything possible to rescue him alive.
“Unfortunately, on Monday, June 17, 2024, the decomposing body of Magnus was painfully recovered under the bridge of Ako stream at Nwakpu village, along Ikwo/Abakaliki road”, he said
Uhuo’s arrest was confirmed by the Ebonyi State Police command’s spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu.