IMO MAN ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED MURDER OF LOVER, SALE OF HER 16-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER

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By: Muftau Fatimo

A man has been arrested in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, over the alleged murder of his lover, the disappearance of her 16-month-old daughter and a reported ₦5 million ransom demand from the victim’s family.

According to reports, the suspect, who hails from Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise, allegedly abducted the woman and her daughter on September 19, 2026.

He was accused of killing the woman, burying her body in a shallow grave and subsequently selling the toddler. The suspect also allegedly demanded ₦5 million from the victim’s family.

Reports indicate that the deceased was a widow who lost her husband a few years ago and was reportedly in a romantic relationship with the suspect. The circumstances surrounding the incident and what transpired between the pair before the alleged crime remain unclear.

The woman’s body has reportedly been exhumed and deposited in a morgue, while the whereabouts of her daughter remain unknown.

The suspect was reportedly apprehended after police traced a phone number allegedly used during negotiations over the ransom.

In a further development, claims have emerged linking the suspect to a similar case reported in 2015, when he was allegedly accused of killing his 25-year-old pregnant girlfriend and burying her body in a shallow grave within the same compound.

The latest reports further allege that the suspect escaped from prison following the earlier incident and was never recaptured. Additional unverified claims suggest that he may have been involved in another similar case about four years ago, which was allegedly settled out of court.

However, these previous allegations have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether they are connected to the current investigation.

The suspect is reportedly in police custody as investigations continue into the alleged murder and the disappearance of the toddler.

The recovery of the missing child remains a major concern as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.