Crime
How I Hired Friends To Kill My Stepmother – 20-Year Stepson Confesses
Ekenedilichukwu Okeke, age 20, admitted on Friday that he was guilty of his stepmother, Mrs. Theresa Okeke’s horrific murder in Awka, Anambra State.
According to reports, Okeke, an accountant with the National Population Commission (NPC), was found dead in her home at No. 4 Umuziocha, Awka, on September 28, 2022.
However, the suspect claimed that he killed the deceased so that she could withdraw N1 million from her phone while being paraded by police along with 19 other people at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Amawbia.
He said he had to hire his friends to assist him to carry out the act, shortly after the deceased, who had been assisting him in paying his fees, insisted he must leave her house over a misunderstanding.
He said: “I finished writing JAMB and was doing some menial jobs to enable me to raise money for my university fees. I also worked for NPC 3 months ago.
“I had a misunderstanding with my mom, along the line and she scolded me. I pleaded with her, thinking she’s forgiven me. But the next day she asked me to leave the house.
“I called my dad and elder brother to inform them of the development but my dad didn’t pick up. It was my brother who picked that I told him what happened.
“After I called my friends to help me get money from my mom so I can use it for my fees ahead of my admission. Along the line, she collapsed and slumped.
“I’m very remorseful and praying God to have mercy on me and the government to forgive me.”
One of the accomplices, Peter Jideofor, a musician who confessed he was the one that tied the deceased mouth when she attempted to scream, said they would not have killed her if she had provided her PIN.
He said, “He told me he had an issue with his stepmother and that I should help him extract N1m from her. It was around 2 am, with my other guys. We tied her hands and feet.
“When she wanted to shout, I tied her mouth. In the process, she stopped breathing. It was at that point I left because my mission was not to kill. When I was leaving, I told the guy to keep checking on her every 30 minutes.
“But it was in the morning she told us that she’s dead. All of us were in shock and fled, but I stayed indoors until the day I was arrested.”
Jideofor, who claimed to be an orphan, regretted the act, saying it was his first experience.
“I must confess that I didn’t plan to kill her. I feel very guilty. This is my first time. I’m 24 years. We had planned to do a transfer but she refused to provide the PIN.
The CP, Echeng Echeng CP had earlier claimed that the prime suspect was the same person who had come to report his stepmother’s horrific murder by unidentified assailants.
He claimed that the accused had since admitted to the crime and that they would soon face charges.
He said, “Police on September 28, at about 0200hrs, one Mrs. Theresa Okeke (f), aged 54years, an accountant with NPC, Awka was gruesomely murdered in her residence, No. 4 Umuziocha, Awka.
“Immediately the case was reported, her stepson, Ekenedilichukwu Okeke, 20 who slept in the same house with the deceased was arrested for interrogation.
“He claimed armed robbers stormed their residence and killed his stepmother. However, after an intelligence-based interrogation, he eventually confessed to the crime and named his accomplice.
“Detectives from State CID Awka swiftly mobilized in search of the accomplices which led to the arrest of three additional suspects, namely, Peter Jideofor, aka Rider, 23, Chukwuemeka Christopher, 29, and Chisom Emmanuel, 22.
“They have all confessed to the crime and disclosed that it was the deceased stepson who contracted them to come and kill the deceased to enable them to transfer the sum of 1m from her account, having known her phone password.”
A man identified as Jacob Irewa has been arrested by the Kogi State Police Command for allegedly setting his wife, Berida Irawo, ablaze following a domestic disagreement in Lokoja.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Oworo Estate, Felele, Lokoja.
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According to the state police spokesperson, ASP Salisu Afusat, the B Division Surveillance Team, Felele, received a report of the incident at about 8:30pm and immediately mobilised to the scene, where the suspect was arrested.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the dispute started after the victim allegedly burnt some of her husband’s clothes which she believed he was no longer using, without his permission.
The police said the suspect subsequently threatened his wife, fetched petrol from his motorcycle and allegedly set her ablaze.
The victim survived the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Honey Gold Hospital, Felele.
Afusat said the suspect, during interrogation, admitted to setting his wife ablaze, adding that the command had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, condemned the alleged attack and reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for violence, particularly domestic violence.
He urged members of the public to resolve domestic disputes through lawful means and avoid actions capable of endangering lives.
The police said Irewa would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Three suspected members of a notorious kidnapping gang allegedly linked to the August 2 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been arrested by security operatives.
The suspects were apprehended during a joint operation involving the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security personnel.
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One suspected kidnapper was reportedly killed during a gun battle with the security forces, while four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the gang.
The development was disclosed on Monday night when Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, visited the state DSS headquarters to inspect the arrested suspects.
Representing the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said two of the three victims abducted during the August 2 attack had regained their freedom.
The victims, identified as Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Emmanuel Onwudi, reportedly identified the arrested suspects as the individuals who abducted them.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them,” Onyia said.
He added that the arrested suspects would face the full weight of the law.
The SSG said the state government would continue to strengthen its security architecture and collaborate with security agencies to prevent criminal activities across Enugu State.
He warned criminal elements that the state would not provide a safe haven for their activities.
Onyia also cautioned residents against assisting or providing information to criminal groups, stressing that anyone found collaborating with such groups would be investigated and prosecuted.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate,” he warned.
The SSG commended the DSS, Nigerian Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security agencies for their efforts in apprehending the suspects and recovering the weapons.
He further assured residents that investigations were ongoing and that the government would continue to pursue those involved in criminal activities in the state.
The Osun State Police Command has released the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Anjorin, on bail following his arrest over an alleged shooting incident during a political procession in Ilesa.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the commissioner’s release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
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Ojelabi said Anjorin was released at about 1:00 p.m. after being granted bail.
“The commissioner has been released. He was released around 1.00 p.m on bail,” the police spokesperson said.
He, however, disclosed that an Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner remains in police custody.
“The Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner and the gun found with him (the Amotekun operative) are still with us,” Ojelabi added.
He stressed that investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
The commissioner’s arrest followed an alleged shooting during a political procession in Ilesa on Saturday.
According to the police, suspected armed men allegedly arrived in a government vehicle, alighted and fired into the vicinity of the ongoing political procession.
The suspects were reportedly dressed as personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps.
The incident reportedly left three people with gunshot injuries. The victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the police said investigations would continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the roles of those arrested.
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