Following the suspected murder of prime suspect, Andrew Ochekwo, in the mysterious disappearance of two ladies – Celine and Afiba recently in Aba, Abia State and the attendant arguments, and counterarguments surrounding the case, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed a high – powered investigation into it.
The Daily Crucible reports that two ladies – Afiba Abigail Tendoh said to be a Ghanaian national and Celine Chidinma Ndidum, were said to have left Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, for Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State to visit Andrew Amaechi Ochekwo, a wealthy Nigerian but the two ladies disappeared shortly afterwards and their whereabouts still remained largely unknown since April 27, 2024.
It was learnt that their friends and relations who knew about the movement but could not maintain any further contact with them raised the alarm about their disappearance until the matter went viral on social media.
A strange twist crept into the matter when the prime suspect, Ochekwo, in the disappearance of the two ladies died during investigation by detectives from the Abia State Police Command amid allegations and controversies that some millions of Naira were mysteriously withdrawn from Ochekwo’s bank account around the period of his suspected murder, prompting the IGP to constitute a probe team concerning the case.
The task of unraveling the queer occurrence is the IGP’s Monitoring Unit which has been a two-week timeframe to conduct a thorough investigation into the suspected murder and submit a comprehensive report on it.
The Monitoring Unit is also expected to burrow deep to ascertain the roles played by the team which carried out the initial investigation in Abia State, and the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT).
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP ‘Muyiwa Adejobi, who made this known on Monday night, quoted IGP Egbetokun as assuring ‘that this case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and integrity.’
The IGP also urged all well-meaning members of the public and all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the investigation process to proceed without interference even as he appealed to persons or groups with relevant information regarding the case to come forward and assist with the investigation.
Adejobi statement reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has directed the Monitoring Unit to conduct a thorough and high-powered investigation into the suspected murder of one Andrew Ochekwo. This directive comes amid the numerous allegations, arguments, and counterarguments surrounding the case, which also involves the disappearance of two ladies, Celine and Afiba after their trip to visit the said Andrew in Aba, Abia State, for which he was alleged to be responsible.
“In light of the public interest and the gravity of the allegations, the IGP has deemed it necessary to institute a meticulous investigation into the roles played by the team which carried out the initial investigation in Abia State, and the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT), to unravel the veritable facts of the matter. The Monitoring Unit has been given a two-week timeframe to complete its investigation and present a comprehensive report.
“The Inspector General of Police assures that this case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and integrity, urging all well-meaning members of the public and all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the investigation process to proceed without interference. Similarly, all persons/groups with relevant information regarding this case are encouraged to come forward and assist with the investigation, and all such information provided will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
“The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the cooperation and support of the public and hereby reassures that timely updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”