NEWS
Imo Man Arrested Over Murder of Lover, Sale of Her 16-Month-Old Daughter After Demanding ₦5m Ransom
A disturbing case of alleged murder, child trafficking and ransom demands has emerged in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, following the arrest of a man accused of killing his new lover, selling her 16-month-old daughter and demanding ₦5 million from the woman’s family.
The suspect, reportedly from Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, was alleged to have abducted the woman and her toddler on September 19, 2026, before killing the woman and burying her body in a shallow grave.
He was also accused of selling the little girl after the incident, while allegedly demanding ₦5 million from the victim’s family in what has become a deeply troubling case that has raised fresh concerns over the safety of women and children.
Reports indicate that the deceased was a widow who lost her husband a few years ago and had reportedly entered into a romantic relationship with the suspect.
However, the circumstances surrounding the relationship and what may have transpired between the pair before the alleged crime remain unclear.
The woman’s body has reportedly been exhumed and deposited in a morgue, but the whereabouts of her 16-month-old daughter remain unknown, leaving the family and concerned residents desperate for answers and the child’s safe recovery.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended after police operatives traced a telephone number allegedly used during negotiations over the ransom. His arrest is expected to help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and determine the fate of the missing toddler.
In a disturbing development, claims have resurfaced linking the suspect to an alleged murder case reported in 2015, involving his then 25-year-old pregnant girlfriend.
According to accounts circulating about the earlier incident, the woman was allegedly murdered and buried in a shallow grave within the same compound. Further claims suggest that the suspect escaped from prison after his arrest and was never recaptured.
There are also unverified allegations that he may have been involved in another similar incident approximately four years ago, which was reportedly settled out of court.
However, these historical claims have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether the earlier allegations involve the same suspect or are directly connected to the current investigation. The claims therefore require confirmation from the relevant law enforcement authorities and official records.
The immediate concern following the suspect’s arrest is the recovery of the missing 16-month-old girl and the establishment of what happened to her after her mother’s alleged murder.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged sale of the child, including her possible location and the identities of anyone who may have been involved, remain unclear.
The suspect is reportedly in police custody as investigations continue into the alleged murder, abduction, ransom demand and disappearance of the toddler.
Authorities are expected to establish the full facts of the case, verify the claims surrounding the suspect’s alleged criminal history and pursue any other individuals who may have been involved.
As the investigation unfolds, the urgent priority remains finding the missing child and ensuring that anyone found culpable faces 
the full weight of the law.