The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 18-year-old Obodoagu Ikediekpere Wisdom for allegedly kidnapping and murdering his five-year-old second cousin after a failed attempt to extort ₦1 million from the child’s family.
Police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that Wisdom was arrested alongside an accomplice, Sunday Michael, a 24-year-old security guard from Adamawa State. The suspects were apprehended on August 11 and 12, 2025, by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad following intelligence reports.
The child was first reported missing on July 26, 2025. Investigations revealed that Wisdom used Michael to place ransom calls to the victim’s father in an effort to conceal his identity. When the ransom demand went unmet, the teenager allegedly killed the child and buried the body in a bush near their residence in Okinitor, Amankwo Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area.
According to police, both suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation. The prime suspect later led officers to the shallow grave, where the victim’s remains were exhumed in the presence of medical personnel who confirmed the child’s death.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has expressed condolences to the grieving family and assured that the suspects will face prosecution once investigations are concluded. He further reiterated the Command’s commitment to tackling violent crimes and ensuring justice for victims.
