Police in Anambra arrest 26-year-old Kosisochukwu Ibekwe over nursing student Vivian Chilaka’s murder, while landlord earlier linked to the case is cleared.
The Anambra State Police Command has made a fresh breakthrough in the investigation into the death of 23-year-old nursing student, Vivian Chilaka, with the arrest of a 26-year-old man identified as Kosisochukwu Ibekwe.
Chilaka was killed on June 14 in Alor, located in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Her death generated widespread concern within the community and triggered public demands for a thorough investigation and the identification of those responsible.
The latest development was announced by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued in Awka and made available to journalists on Saturday.
Ikenga said the suspect was apprehended on September 4 following information received by the command which investigators considered credible and useful to the ongoing probe.
The arrest, according to the police, has provided investigators with fresh leads as they work to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the nursing student’s death and determine whether other criminal activities may be linked to the suspect.
Giving an account of the preliminary findings, Ikenga said investigators had established that the suspect allegedly gained access to the building where Chilaka was staying by climbing over the fence with the aid of a ladder.
The police spokesman said the investigation indicated that the suspect’s alleged initial objective was to sexually assault the deceased.
However, the situation reportedly became violent after Chilaka resisted the alleged attack.
According to the police account, a struggle subsequently broke out between the suspect and the nursing student.
During the confrontation, Ibekwe allegedly used a knife to stab Chilaka, causing injuries that resulted in her death.
The police said the information gathered so far formed part of the preliminary stage of the investigation and that further work was required to establish the complete circumstances of the incident.
Ikenga added that investigators were also examining claims allegedly made by the suspect regarding his involvement in other criminal incidents within the community.
The police, however, cautioned that those allegations were still being investigated and had not been conclusively established.
“These claims are currently being subjected to thorough investigation and corroboration by the command,” Ikenga said.
The development has also brought clarification to the position of the deceased’s landlord, who had previously been questioned by the police in connection with the case.
Following the latest findings, the command said the landlord had been exonerated and was no longer considered a suspect in the murder investigation.
The police therefore appealed to members of the public to stop associating the landlord with the killing, noting that the ongoing investigation had cleared him of involvement in the incident.
“The command further wishes to clarify that the landlord, who was earlier linked with the incident, has been exonerated, following the ongoing investigation,” the statement said.
“The command, therefore, urges members of the public to disregard any earlier suspicion against him.”
The clarification is expected to bring some relief to the landlord, who had previously been subjected to police questioning as detectives attempted to establish how the crime occurred and identify the person responsible.
Meanwhile, Ibekwe remains in police custody as investigators continue to examine the evidence surrounding Chilaka’s death.
The command said its investigation would also focus on the suspect’s alleged links to other criminal activities reportedly committed in the community.
Ikenga said detectives would work to corroborate the information obtained from the suspect and establish the facts before any further action is taken.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, has meanwhile praised residents of Alor for their support and cooperation with law enforcement officers throughout the investigation.
According to the PPRO, the commissioner particularly acknowledged community members who provided information that assisted the police in making progress in the case.
The commissioner reportedly said cooperation between residents and security agencies remained essential in tackling violent crimes and ensuring that perpetrators were identified.
Ama also reaffirmed the command’s determination to pursue all credible leads relating to the murder and ensure that anyone eventually found culpable would be made to face the appropriate legal process.
The police boss assured residents that the command would not relent in its efforts to protect lives and property across the state.
The investigation into Chilaka’s death has therefore entered another phase following the arrest of the new suspect.
While the police have provided details of their preliminary findings, the command is expected to continue gathering evidence, interviewing relevant persons and examining the alleged links between Ibekwe and other criminal incidents.
The police have also urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information about the case, particularly information capable of wrongly implicating innocent individuals.
Instead, residents have been encouraged to provide useful information to the authorities through appropriate channels to assist investigators in establishing the truth.
Chilaka’s death had attracted considerable attention because of her age and status as a nursing student, while the circumstances surrounding the killing heightened concerns about the safety of residents within the community.
The latest arrest could therefore prove significant in the effort to establish what happened on the day of the incident and whether the suspect acted alone or had any connection to other offences.
For now, the police said the investigation remains ongoing, with Ibekwe in custody while detectives work to verify the allegations against him and determine the next steps in the case.
The command reiterated that the ultimate objective of the investigation was to establish the facts surrounding the death of Vivian Chilaka and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought before the law.
Police authorities also maintained that their commitment to community safety would remain a priority, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely information that could help prevent and solve violent crimes in Anambra State.
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