Wendy Achumba: Boyfriend Remains in Custody as Police Deepen Probe Into Nursing Student’s Murder

The boyfriend of late nursing student Wendy Achumba remains in police custody as investigations into her killing continue, the Imo State Police Command has confirmed.

The command had earlier arrested two suspects — Onyema Okonkwo and Emmanuel Onyekachi — in connection with the murder of the 21-year-old student of Our Lady of Mercy Nursing School.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the victim’s boyfriend, whose identity was withheld, would remain detained pending the outcome of forensic investigations.

According to Okoye, investigators have already forwarded evidence recovered from the crime scene for laboratory analysis, including fingerprint examinations.

“Preliminary investigations are still ongoing. We have sent evidence recovered from the scene of the crime to the laboratory for analysis. We are still expecting the results of fingerprints and other forensic examinations,” he said.

“Once we confirm that Wendy’s boyfriend is not involved, we will release him and every other person found to be innocent.”

Sources familiar with the investigation claimed the boyfriend was initially the person who reported the incident to the police before he was later detained as a prime suspect during the early stages of the probe.

Until her death last Thursday, Achumba was reportedly undergoing post-basic midwifery training at the nursing school located in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.

Meanwhile, police said one of the arrested suspects, Onyema Okonkwo, allegedly confessed to raping and killing the victim.

Okoye said Okonkwo also implicated Emmanuel Onyekachi as an accomplice, alleging that both men raped the student before killing her after she recognised them.

The police spokesperson added that both suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“Operatives of the Obowo Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with community stakeholders, arrested two suspects allegedly connected with the rape and murder of Wendy Achumba, a 21-year-old post-basic nursing student of Mercy College of Nursing Science, Umulogho, whose lifeless body was discovered in her off-campus residence at Umuadara, Umulogho, in Obowo LGA,” Okoye stated.

“She was reportedly the only occupant of the house, as the owner resides abroad, while her two neighbours, who are also nursing students, were away on hospital training outside Obowo.”

“The suspects, Onyema Okonkwo, 32, and Emmanuel Onyekachi, 25, both indigenes of Umuadara, Umulogho, were arrested following sustained intelligence-led investigations carried out in synergy with community stakeholders.”

“During interrogation, Onyema Okonkwo allegedly confessed to killing the victim after repeatedly raping her in an attempt to conceal the crime. He also implicated Emmanuel Onyekachi in the incident.”

However, another source who spoke anonymously claimed that after arriving at the Imo State Police Command headquarters, Okonkwo allegedly changed his statement and told investigators he acted alone while requesting the release of Onyekachi.

The source added that the development may have contributed to the continued detention of the victim’s boyfriend as police intensify investigations into the case.