The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspect involved in the abduction and killing of a 55-year-old school caregiver, Mrs. Chinyere Anaene, and a toddler under her care, Nanenter Asher Yese, in Dawaki, Abuja.
The Command said the incident occurred on July 23, 2025, when the victims were reported missing from Clear Hope Foundation Academy. That same day, the victim’s husband received a distress call from her phone demanding ₦250 million ransom.
In a statement on the development, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Adewale, psc, mnips, said:
“We received a report of a double disappearance involving a caregiver and a toddler, and immediately mobilised our Anti-Kidnapping Unit to investigate. Through coordinated digital forensics and intelligence operations, we tracked movements to Yelwa and Uke in Nasarawa State.”
The breakthrough came on July 29 when operatives apprehended one David Moses, a security guard at the school who was initially thought to be a victim. Under interrogation, Moses confessed to conspiring with his friend, Sunday Irimiya — who is now on the run — to commit the crime.
According to the confession, the suspects lured Mrs. Anaene to the school’s bathroom, where she was strangled. The toddler was taken from a classroom and also killed. The corpses were then stuffed into a sack, transported using a scavenger’s cart, and dumped in a canal.
CP Adewale described the crime as “cold-blooded and heartbreaking,” noting that the suspects went ahead to demand ₦3 million from the family even after killing the victims.
“It is deeply troubling that despite murdering their victims, they still kept demanding ransom under the guise that the victims were alive,” he said.
The CP revealed that a disagreement over ransom sharing led to Irimiya allegedly stabbing Moses in an attempt to silence him. Moses fled and was intercepted by officers already deployed to the area.
“We have recovered the remains of the victims at the location the suspect identified. We are intensifying efforts to apprehend the second suspect and bring all involved to justice,” CP Adewale added.
The FCT Police Command expressed condolences to the bereaved families, with the PPRO, SP Josephine Adeh, Anipr, stating:
“Our hearts go out to the families of Mrs. Anaene and baby Nanenter. No words can truly ease their pain, but we assure the public that justice will not be compromised.”
The Commissioner urged schools and private institutions to partner with the police in thoroughly screening all security personnel before employment.
“Private security firms must ensure proper background checks of their personnel, and schools must not overlook the importance of verifying those entrusted with the lives of children,” he said.
Residents of Abuja and surrounding areas are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or through emergency lines.