A tragic case of kidnapping and murder has shocked residents of Abuja after a 20-year-old security guard confessed to killing a school nurse and a toddler over a ransom dispute.
The suspect, David Moses, who worked at Clear Hope Foundation Academy in Dawaki, Abuja, admitted to the abduction and killing of Mrs. Chinyere Anaene (55), a nurse and caregiver, and 14-month-old Nanenter Yese.
While being paraded at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Friday, Moses told journalists that he conspired with an accomplice, Sunday Irimiya, to kidnap the victims and demand a ransom. Sunday is currently on the run.
Moses revealed that the duo first demanded ₦250 million from the victims’ families but later settled for ₦3 million, which they successfully collected. Trouble started when both men disagreed over how to share the money.
“We had issues while sharing the ransom. My friend stabbed me with a knife and ran away with the money,” Moses said.
According to his confession, the plan started with luring the nurse to a toilet in the school premises, where Sunday allegedly strangled her with a rope. The toddler was also later abducted and killed.
“I told Sunday that killing the woman was enough, but he insisted that we must take the baby too so the ransom would be justified,” Moses added.
Shockingly, Moses confessed that the nurse had shown him kindness in the past and had even given him ₦300 for food on the day she was murdered.
“She was nice to me. That very day, she gave me money to buy food,” he said.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, said the case was reported on July 23 by the school after the victims were declared missing. Investigations led to the arrest of Moses, who confessed to the crime.
The police also arrested the school principal, two other security guards, and the Chief Security Officer of the private security company that employed Moses.
Zachariah Fiyinfoluwa, a representative of the security firm, admitted that the company failed to properly document Moses’ employment and did not collect his guarantor’s details.
“For not keeping proper records, I accept that it’s our fault,” he said.
The incident has raised serious concerns over safety in schools and the vetting processes of private security companies across the FCT. Police say the investigation is still ongoing and efforts are being made to arrest the fleeing suspect, Sunday Irimiya.
