In a harrowing crime that has sent shockwaves through the Federal University, Lokoja, and the entire Kogi State community, four suspects have been apprehended in connection with the gruesome kidnap and murder of a 17-year-old female student. The victim, a promising 100-level biology student at the Federal University, Lokoja, was abducted and killed in cold blood by a 21-year-old man, who conspired with three of his friends to commit the heinous crime.
The tragic incident was confirmed by the Kogi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 13, in Lokoja. Ovye-Aya recounted the chilling series of events that culminated in the arrest of the prime suspect, Jeremiah Paul-Awe, and his three accomplices.
“The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, attached to the State Intelligence Department (SID), Kogi Command, acted swiftly after receiving a complaint of the victim’s disappearance. Through actionable intelligence and with the assistance of the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) from Force Headquarters, Abuja, we were able to track down and arrest Jeremiah Paul-Awe of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State,” SP Ovye-Aya stated.
According to the police spokesperson, the case unfolded when the victim’s father, Mr. Stephen Oluwoyo, reported that his daughter had gone missing. He frantically tried to reach her but received no response, heightening his fears. His worst nightmare materialized when he received a menacing message from an unknown number, informing him that his daughter had been kidnapped. The message was soon followed by a ransom demand from the abductors, further compounding the family’s anguish.
Determined to bring the culprits to justice, the Kogi State Police Command immediately launched a full-scale investigation. With the technical support of the TIU, the police pursued every available lead, culminating in the arrest of Paul-Awe on September 11. Under interrogation, Paul-Awe confessed to the crime and led officers to the location where the victim’s lifeless body was recovered.
In a heartbreaking scene, the young student’s remains were discovered in a secluded area, bearing the marks of violence. Her body was swiftly evacuated and taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja, where it was deposited for autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
The investigation did not stop with the arrest of the prime suspect. As the police delved deeper into the case, Paul-Awe revealed that he had not acted alone. He implicated three of his friends in the crime, leading to their subsequent arrest. The suspects were identified as part of the conspiracy to kidnap and murder the innocent student, with two of them being close associates of Paul-Awe who had aided and abetted him throughout the execution of the crime.
SP Ovye-Aya confirmed that the police are continuing their investigation to uncover all the facts behind the murder. He reassured the public that the suspects would face the full weight of the law once investigations are concluded. “The four suspects will be charged to court after the completion of our investigation. This is a deeply troubling case, and we will ensure that justice is served,” he stated.
The news of the murder has left the entire university community in deep mourning. The deceased was described by her peers as a bright, hardworking student with a promising future. The senseless killing has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for stricter security measures to protect students both on and off campus.
“We are devastated by the loss of one of our own. This young woman had her entire future ahead of her, and her life was cruelly taken away. We urge the authorities to ensure that justice is done, and that those responsible for this crime are held accountable,” a spokesperson for the university said.
As the community reels from the devastating news, the spotlight has turned to the larger issue of student safety in the region. The murder of the 17-year-old student has raised concerns about the growing threat of kidnapping and other violent crimes, prompting renewed calls for better policing and security initiatives across Kogi State.
Human rights activists and student bodies have also expressed their outrage at the tragedy, calling for swift and decisive action to prevent such heinous crimes from occurring again. They have urged the government to take more proactive steps to protect students, particularly young women, from the rising tide of violence.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a painful reminder of the need for vigilance and heightened security measures, not just within university environments, but across the entire nation. As the police continue their investigation, the family and friends of the victim, along with the larger Kogi community, are left grieving the tragic and senseless loss of a bright, young life. The suspects now await their fate in court, as the quest for justice presses on.
Peoplesmind