The Cross River State Police Command has arrested two suspects, Mathias Amunde, the son of the deceased, and Emmanuel Oruru, in connection with the brutal murder of Mrs Justina Amunde in Obudu Local Council of Cross River State.

The suspects, who had been on the run since the crime was committed, were paraded yesterday at the Police Command headquarters in Calabar. The 50-year-old victim was killed on December 24, 2024, in her home after returning from a church service.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, Mathias and his accomplice initially reported the victim and her housemaid, Miss Fortunate Ochonu, as missing on December 26, 2024, claiming they had failed to return from a church vigil.

However, investigations revealed that Mathias and Oruru, with the assistance of a third accomplice, identified as Henry Abang alias Wacott, who remains at large, had committed the crime.

Ugbo explained that the suspects gained access to Mrs Amunde’s residence on the night of the incident and hid in the kitchen, awaiting her return from church. Upon her arrival, they killed her, wrapped her body, and dumped it in a well before fleeing with her mobile phone. The housemaid managed to escape the attackers.

“A manhunt was launched for the suspects, leading to the arrest of Mathias Amunde and Emmanuel Oruru. Both suspects have confessed to the crime,” Ugbo said.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar for further investigation. Ugbo assured that the suspects would be prosecuted and updates on the investigation would be made public.