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Police in Anambra State have arrested Obadigbo Emmanuel Anumudu, more than a year after he allegedly murdered and beheaded a 69-year-old woman over a land dispute and fled.
Southeastposts reports that Anumudu, 46, was accused of killing Mrs Obianuju Akubi at Umuleri community in Anambra East Local Council in July 2024 before going into hiding.
It was gathered that he was apprehended by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, after being on the run for over a year.
Spokesperson for the command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement, revealing that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation.
According to the statement, two of Anumudu’s accomplices were earlier arrested by members of the Anambra State Vigilante group, Agunechemba, but were yet to be handed over to the police.
Ikenga said, “He (Anumudu) was arrested acting on credible information on October 4, 2025, at Aguleri. The suspect had allegedly been on the run since July 22, 2024, after he gruesomely murdered and beheaded Mrs Obianuju Akubi, a 69-year-old woman in Umuleri.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and further mentioned members of his gang who participated in the murder and beheading. He also disclosed the whereabouts of the victim’s head, which was taken away after the heinous act,” Ikenga said. He added that preliminary investigations revealed the killing was connected to a land dispute in Ogwu Nzu.
“It was gathered that after the victim testified in favour of one of the parties over ownership of the disputed land, the suspect allegedly beheaded her and used her head for ritual purposes in a bid to fortify themselves for the conquest of the land,” he said.
Similarly, two additional suspects, identified as Mr Joseph Udezuo (also known as Boss) and Chukwuemeka Nworah (also known as Odumodu), have also been arrested by local security operatives and are awaiting formal handover to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Responding to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the act, describing it as a “senseless and barbaric” act, stressing that land disputes are civil matters and parties involved should exercise patience with the courts instead of resorting to violence.
He appreciated the Nigerian military and security stakeholders in Anambra East Local Council, particularly the chairman, Chinweze Ifeanyichukwu, for their collaboration and timely intelligence, which led to the arrests.
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