PORT HARCOURT, Rivers — Andrew Ochekwo, the man arrested in connection with the disappearance of Celine Ndudim and Afiba Tandoh, has been killed while attempting to escape police custody.
The two women travelled from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State to meet Ochekwo on April 27, 2024, after connecting with him on Facebook, and have not been seen since.
Ochekwo was apprehended following the women’s disappearance but reportedly refused to disclose their whereabouts to the police.
Nigerian activist Harrison Gwamnishu revealed that Ochekwo was shot dead by vigilantes while being transported from Abia State to Abuja by police operatives.
“He was killed while trying to escape with his car. The whereabouts of Celine and Afiba are still unknown,” Gwamnishu stated.
The police investigation suggested that Ochekwo was involved in an organ harvesting syndicate.
Gwamnishu shared a video of another victim who managed to escape from Ochekwo’s house after being held hostage for six days.
Providing further details on the case, Gwamnishu noted that there were plans to transfer the investigation to Abuja for more extensive inquiry.
This decision followed complaints that Ochekwo was receiving preferential treatment while in police custody in Umuahia, Abia State, where the case was initially reported by the victims’ families.
An investigation team from Abuja was dispatched to retrieve Ochekwo. During the transfer, he allegedly attempted to flee, prompting vigilante men to shoot him.
The vigilante men involved in the shooting are now in police custody, pending further investigation into the incident.
As the search for Celine Ndudim and Afiba Tandoh continues, their families and the public await answers.
The authorities have yet to provide additional details on the progress of the investigation into their disappearance.
