The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a key suspect, identified as Obadigbo Emmanuel Anumudu, aged 46, for allegedly beheading a 69-year-old woman, Mrs. Obianuju Akubi, in Umuleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.
According to reports, the suspect had been on the run since 2024 after the brutal murder and beheading of the victim but was finally arrested on Saturday.
This development was announced in a press release issued by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Sunday.
Ikenga revealed that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, tracked and arrested the suspect following credible intelligence.
The statement read in part, “Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible information, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, stormed Aguleri and arrested the prime suspect, Obadigbo Emmanuel Anumudu, ‘M’, aged 46 years.
“The suspect had allegedly been on the run since July 22, 2024, after he gruesomely murdered and beheaded Mrs Obianuju Akubi, a 69-year-old woman in Umuleri.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and further mentioned members of his gang who participated in the murder and beheading.
“He also disclosed the whereabouts of the victim’s head, which was taken away after the heinous act.”
Ikenga stated that efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accomplices and ensure they face justice. He also noted that further updates will be provided as investigations progress.
In an additional update, the PPRO disclosed that two other suspects had been detained by community security operatives and would soon be handed over to the police.
Ikenga continued, “Meanwhile, two additional suspects, identified as Mr Joseph Udezuo (aka Boss) and Chukwuemeka Nworah (aka Odumodu), have also been arrested by local security stakeholders and are awaiting formal handover to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.”
He commended the local security groups for their collaboration, noting that their efforts contributed to the recent breakthrough.
The PPRO further cautioned residents against taking laws into their own hands, particularly in matters relating to land disputes.
“The CP reiterates that land cases are pure civil cases and encourages groups and persons to be patient with the court proceedings rather than resorting to self-help, emphasising that such actions only lead to avoidable loss of lives and property.
“He further reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across Anambra State, urging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police and other security agencies,” Ikenga concluded.
Land-related disputes continue to be a recurring source of violence in parts of Anambra. In past cases, conflicts have escalated into killings, such as the June 2025 incident where armed thugs murdered two individuals, and another case in Awka-Etiti, where a man was arrested for fatally stabbing a relative during a land disagreement.
These recurring crimes highlight a disturbing trend of land disputes turning deadly in the state.
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