The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a prime suspect in connection with the gruesome murder of a pregnant nurse in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed that the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence gathering and strong collaboration with members of the community.
According to the statement, the suspect, Chibunna Nwafor, 26, popularly known as “Ọffọnwatadile,” was apprehended on February 11, 2026, at his hideout in Umueri Community. His arrest forms part of ongoing investigations into the tragic killing that shocked residents of Ogbunike and neighbouring communities.
SP Ikenga described the development as a significant milestone in the case, noting that the victim’s mutilated body was earlier discovered in Ogbunike, sparking widespread panic and outrage.
He further revealed that the suspect has been transferred to a higher investigative formation of the Nigeria Police Force for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended members of the public for their cooperation and timely provision of credible information that aided the arrest. He reiterated the Command’s resolve to ensure that all individuals connected to the crime are identified, apprehended, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Background To The Incident
The victim, Ngozi Ekebe, a pregnant nurse, was murdered on July 24, 2025, at Umueri Village in Ogbunike Community, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Ngozi, who hailed from Enugu Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State and was married to Sunday Ekebe from Ebonyi State, was said to have been lured to the suspect’s residence under the false pretense of providing urgent medical treatment to a sick mother.
She lived and worked in Umudioka, Anambra State, which shares a boundary with Ogbunike Community. After killing her, the perpetrators allegedly dumped her mutilated body in a soakaway pit, where it was later discovered during investigations.
A day after the incident, on July 25, 2025, operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a 24-year-old woman, Somtochukwu Nwafor, in connection with the murder.
During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to being the girlfriend of another prime suspect, Chiemerie Obika Elobisi, who remains at large. She also admitted to being called upon to clean blood stains after the killing.
Acting on information obtained during interrogation, operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) raided a shrine in the early hours of July 29, 2025. During the search, they recovered suspected human body parts concealed in bags.
Since then, the Command has intensified its manhunt for other fleeing suspects. While the arrest of Chibunna Nwafor marks a major breakthrough, efforts are ongoing to apprehend Elobisi and any other individuals linked to the crime.
The Police Command reassured residents of its unwavering commitment to justice and urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to support ongoing investigations.
