Police arrest alleged mastermind of Pregnant Nurse’s murder in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Chibunna Nwafor, popularly known as “Offonwadile,” over his alleged involvement in the murder of a pregnant nurse in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

Police said the suspect, described as a native doctor, allegedly conspired with accomplices to kill and mutilate the victim before taking parts of her remains to his shrine.

The nurse was reportedly murdered in July 2025 after a friend allegedly lured her to her residence under the pretext of seeking medical treatment. The friend was arrested on July 29, 2025, following community efforts, while Nwafor, believed to be the prime suspect, fled.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said Nwafor was apprehended on February 11, 2026, through sustained intelligence-driven operations and community collaboration.

According to Ikenga, the suspect was arrested at his hideout in Umueri community, Anambra East Local Government Area, as part of ongoing investigations into the case.

“The Anambra State Police Command, through sustained community collaboration and intelligence-driven efforts, took into custody on February 11, 2026, one of the prime suspects in the gruesome murder of a pregnant nurse whose body was mutilated in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area,” the statement read in part.

He added that the suspect has been transferred to a higher investigative formation of the Nigeria Police Force for further discreet investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended members of the community for providing timely information that led to the breakthrough and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.

Investigations are ongoing, and the police said further updates would be communicated as developments unfold.

Earlier in July 2025, the police had confirmed the arrest of another suspect in connection with the case and the recovery of mutilated human body parts from a shrine in the area. During interrogation, the earlier suspect reportedly provided details of how body parts were allegedly sold to various native doctors.