The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the gruesome killing of a five-year-old boy, Obodoagu Wisdom, allegedly by his cousin, 18-year-old Obodoagu Ikediekpere, after a failed kidnap-for-ransom plot.

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad arrested the prime suspect and his accomplice, Sunday Michael, 24, a security guard from Adamawa State.

 

According to Ndukwe, Wisdom was first declared missing on July 26, 2025, before intelligence reports linked his disappearance to his cousin. Investigations revealed that Ikediekpere, in collaboration with Michael, demanded a ransom of ₦1 million from the boy’s father in a bid to conceal his identity.

 

“The suspects were apprehended on 11th and 12th August 2025 by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, following intelligence gathered after ransom demands were reported,” Ndukwe stated.

 

He further explained that when the ransom was not paid, Ikediekpere murdered the child and buried him in a bush close to their residence at Okinitor, Amankwo Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area.

 

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime. The prime suspect thereafter led operatives to the scene, where the victim’s body was exhumed in the presence of medical personnel, including a doctor, who certified the child dead,” he said.

 

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, expressed deep condolences to the grieving family and assured the public that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

 

The tragic incident has shocked residents of the community, raising fresh concerns about rising cases of abductions and violent crimes in the state.