The State Commissioner of Police, Bathelomew Onyeka, addressed journalists in Makurdi, detailing the developments in the case.
According to Onyeka, the case of culpable homicide was reported to the police on August 24, 2023, concerning the late Justice Igbetar. Aondohemba Joseph, a nephew of the deceased, was immediately arrested after the report.
Subsequently, a thorough investigation was launched, leading to the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and its handover to the Operation Zenda Investigative Team for further inquiries.
The police commissioner revealed, "The suspect, who eventually confessed to planning and recruiting others to assist in the killing of his aunt, led a team of detectives to Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area, where additional suspects were apprehended.
The arrested suspects confessed that Aondohemba Joseph had reported that his father died, leaving the significant property in the hands of his aunt (the deceased), who he claimed had refused to relinquish the said property to him. They conspired to eliminate her to gain access to the property."
In addition to the initial arrest, Akuhwa Barnabas, a 32-year-old driver to the deceased, was also apprehended. He admitted allowing the gang access to the house and managing the gate for them during the assassination.
The suspects have confessed to their respective roles in the murder of Justice Igbetar, who was brutally killed in her residence in Makurdi metropolis on August 24. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to the deceased's family and resolve the tragic incident.