OGBUNIKE, Nigeria (BN24) — Authorities in Anambra State have arrested a 24-year-old woman believed to be involved in the brutal killing of a pregnant nurse, whose mutilated body was found in a soakaway pit in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area.
The suspect, Somtochukwu Nwafor, was taken into custody by the Anambra State Police Command after allegedly admitting to her role in the murder. According to police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Nwafor confessed to being the girlfriend of the main suspect, Chiemerie Obika Elobisi, who is currently on the run. Elobisi is said to have lured the victim under the pretense of needing medical attention before killing her in what investigators believe was a ritualistic act.
During questioning, Nwafor reportedly revealed chilling details of the crime, including how she was summoned to clean up blood at the murder scene. She also told detectives that human body parts were sold to local native doctors, naming several in the area.
Prompted by her statement, operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) raided a shrine belonging to a known traditional healer, Nwafor Chibunna Ofornwatadile, in Itima Amawa Village, Ogbunike. During the early morning operation on July 29, authorities recovered multiple bags containing what are believed to be human body parts, concealed in cellophane wraps.
The murder has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited concerns about ritual killings and illegal organ trade in the region. Police say the manhunt for Elobisi and additional suspects — including those believed to have purchased or facilitated the sale of the body parts — is ongoing.
Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu condemned the crime in strong terms, calling it “inhumane, criminal, and an affront to public morality and the sanctity of life.” He urged residents to assist with the investigation by providing any relevant information, assuring the public that informants’ identities would be protected.
Authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle ritualist networks in Anambra State, as the murder of the nurse has brought renewed scrutiny to the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals, especially women, across the region.
The victim, a trained nurse whose name has not yet been officially released, is believed to have been targeted specifically for the brutal crime. Her death is now at the center of what law enforcement officials describe as a larger, deeply entrenched criminal operation involving human body parts trafficking.
The Anambra State Police Command has pledged to bring all those involved to justice.
