The police in Ebonyi State have arrested a couple for alleged murder of a nursing mother and theft of three children.
The three children said to have been stolen by the couple but have been recovered by the police.
Parading the suspects before journalists at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, the police commissioner, Muhammad Mustafa, said the suspects, Lucky and Onyinyechi Godwin, who were arrested in Enugu, always killed the mother of the child they intended to abduct.
Mustafa further explained that the male suspect had last month killed a mother at Crown Garden Hotel, Abakaliki where they both lodged and escaped the next day with her 2-year-old child.
He added that the suspects killed the mother of one of the child with the help of the gateman and had attempted to murder a pregnant woman, Mrs Chisom Ugwu, at a bush near the hotel in November last year.
The police boss said, “The manager of Crown Garden Hotel, one Mr. Emmanuel Eze, reported that an already decomposing body of an unknown woman was discovered in room 403 of the hotel.
“Before this incident, there was a similar one that occurred on November 6, 2018 where one Chisom Ugwu, a pregnant woman was found in a coma in a bush behind Azuiyiokwu Girl’s High School close to the same hotel.
“The victim, Chisom Ugwu narrated to the police that she was attacked by one Papa Emma who was her co-trader at Mayor Market in Enugu.
“She further stated that the said Papa Emma lured her to Abakaliki, took her to the above mentioned bush, attacked her, stole her 2-year-old baby and abandoned her for dead.
“While the victim was still receiving treatment in the hospital, intelligence took the investigators to Enugu State and Mr and Mrs Lucky Godwin, the principal suspects were arrested.
“Mr. Lucky admitted that he was responsible for the murder of the woman found at Crown Garden Hotel, Abakaliki on November 6, 2018.
“He alleged that he was assisted by the gateman, one Monday Onwe, who gave him a knife which he used to kill the said woman and that the same Monday Onwe also kept watch while he escaped with the dead woman’s child and he was paid N30,000.
“The suspects further confessed that he and his wife, Onyinyechi, have also sold their first son Emmanuel to one Doctor in Rivers State.
“The command has successfully recovered the three children stolen by the Godwins including their biological son.”
Speaking to journalists, Lucky admitted culpability but blamed the devil for luring him into the heinous act
