Suspect arrested for setting 74-year-old Anambra woman ablaze

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a principal suspect, Obinna Anene, ‘m’, aged 33 years, fingered in the killing of a 74-year-old woman, Alice Anene at Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Anambra State Police Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect was arrested after he was tracked to a location where he fled.

PUNCH Metro had reported that Anene from Amene Village in Abagana, had on January 25 reportedly conspired with three others still in police custody and set ablaze the 74-year-old woman in a wheelchair at Abagana.

After setting their victim ablaze, the suspects got a casket and were about to bury the deceased with the wheelchair before police operatives were alerted to the scene where the burnt remains of the deceased, the wheelchair, and a casket, were recovered.

Anene was said to have fled the scene while the remaining three other suspects were arrested and kept in custody.

Ikenga, who disclosed the news of his arrest, said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide Section, Awka for a debrief.

He said, “The suspect, Obinna Anene, ‘m’, aged 33 years of Amene Village, Abagana, who was mentioned as the principal suspect in the case of burning and killing of a 74-year-old woman, Alice Anene, at Abagana on 27/01/2025, has been arrested.

“He is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide SCID Section Awka for a debrief.

“Further details shall be communicated, please.”