The Benue State Police Command has arraigned two brothers Terver Agwa and Terna Agwa, before a Makurdi chief magistrate court for allegedly killing a Gboko-based businesswoman and robbing her of over N490,000.
The suspects, both from Mbapen in Kendev, Tombo community, Buruku Local Government Area of the state, were also charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery and culpable homicide.
The conmen murdered the deceased identified as Mrs. Nguhemen Sesugh, and buried her remains in a shallow grave.
It was gathered that the deceased who before her death traded in bags of rice was tricked by her murderers to their enclave in Kendev, Mbatie in Buruku LGA to purchase bags of unmilled rice last week.
“Mrs. Sesugh was dealing in rice at the Gboko rice mill. And as usual with the business she received the call from her murderers that they have several bags of rice for sale,” a source told the Vanguard.
“Not knowing that they were criminals, she went to make the purchase in the farm with about half a million Naira in Buruku LGA, but she never made it back.
“Since her disappearance, efforts to locate her were unsuccessful until a day ago when the investigation by security personnel led to the discovery of where she was buried in a shallow grave at Kendev village, Mbatie in Buruku LGA
“Her body was already decomposing and the cash she took to make the purchases was also not found on her. The investigation also led to the arrest of some persons including two brothers, who allegedly masterminded her murder in the village,” the source added.
The decomposing body of the victim was immediately moved to her village, Tsambe in Vandeikya LGA of the state, by close family members and a former House of Representatives member from the area who accorded her proper burial.
Insp. Godwin Ato, the prosecuting police officer, while addressing the court said the two suspects had tricked their victim that they had bags of rice for sale.
He further told the court that when the woman came to their residence at Buruku to buy the said rice, both accused conspired and lured her to an isolated bush where they strangled her to death, buried her remains in a shallow grave and fled with her N490,000.
Ato further stated that the matter was later reported to the police by the husband to the deceased, who said his wife received a phone call from one of the accused, Terver Agwa, concerning the said bags of rice.
During police investigation, the two accused persons were arrested and both allegedly confessed to committing the crime.
The Magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongon, ordered the remand of the two suspects at the Makurdi Correctional Center and adjourned the case to February 19, 2024, for further mention.
