A man has been arrested over the alleged murder of his lover and the disappearance of her 16-month-old daughter in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, years after he was reportedly accused of a similar crime and escaped from prison.
The suspect, said to be 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. He also allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦5 million from the victim’s family.
Reports indicated that the suspect was romantically involved with the deceased, a widow who lost her husband a few years ago. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident and what may have transpired between them before the alleged crime remain unclear.
The woman’s body has reportedly been exhumed and deposited in a morgue, while her daughter’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The suspect was allegedly apprehended after the police traced a phone number reportedly used during ransom negotiations with the victim’s family.
In a disturbing development, claims have emerged that the suspect was previously reported in the news in 2015 over the alleged murder of his 25-year-old pregnant girlfriend. Her body was reportedly buried in a shallow grave within the same compound.
The latest reports further allege that he escaped from prison and was never recaptured. There are also unverified claims that he was involved in a similar incident 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 ongoing investigation.
The suspect is reportedly in police custody as investigations continue into the alleged murder and the disappearance of the toddler, whose whereabouts remain a major concern.
