The Benue State Police Command has charged two brothers, Terver Agwa and Terna Agwa, with murder and robbery after they allegedly killed a Gboko-based businesswoman and stole over N490,000.
The accused brothers, both from Mbapen in Kendev’s Tombo community in the state’s Buruku Local Government Area, were also charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery, and culpable homicide.
Mrs. Nguhemen Sesugh was murdered and her remains were buried in a shallow grave by the conmen.
According to reports, the deceased, who traded in bags of rice before her death, was misled by her assassins into going to their enclave in Kendev, Mbatie in Buruku LGA last week to buy bags of unmilled rice.
“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 at 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.
Close family members and a former House of Representatives member from the area promptly carried the victim’s deteriorating remains to her village, Tsambe in Vandeikya LGA of the state, where she was properly buried.
Insp. Godwin Ato, the prosecuting police officer, told the court that the two accused had duped their victim into thinking they had sacks of rice for sale.
He further informed the court that when the woman arrived to their home in Buruku to buy the rice, the accused colluded and lured her to an isolated bush, strangled her to death, buried her body in a shallow grave, and fled with her N490,000.
Ato further added that the case was later reported to police by the deceased’s husband, who stated that his wife received a phone call from one of the accused, Terver Agwa, regarding the abovementioned bags of rice.
During a police inquiry, the two suspects were apprehended and allegedly confessed to the crime.
The Magistrate, Kelvin Mbanongon, ordered the two accused to be held at the Makurdi Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till February 19, 2024.
