A tragic case involving the disappearance and killing of a bride-to-be has continued to draw national attention in Nigeria as court proceedings move slowly through the justice system.
Josephine Cynthia Onche, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and daughter of a former mayor in Otukpo, Benue State, was reported missing in December 2019, just days before her wedding.
According to family members, Onche told relatives she was heading to the market to purchase final items for her wedding scheduled later that month. She never returned home.
Her disappearance sparked months of searching by family, friends, and authorities. During that period, her fiancé, Christopher Akpan, reportedly joined in early search efforts and expressed concern over her whereabouts.
After 18 months without any trace, Onche was officially declared missing.
The case took a dramatic turn in May 2021 after a tip-off from a commercial motorcyclist who reported suspicious activity connected to the disappearance. The information led investigators from the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to arrest Akpan.
During interrogation, Akpan allegedly directed investigators to a traditional healer identified as Afolabi Rafiu Akin, who had reportedly fled Benue for Ogun State.
Police said the native doctor later confessed to involvement in a plot that led to the discovery of Onche’s remains in a shallow grave in Obi Local Government Area, Benue State.
Investigators said two possible motives emerged during the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
Authorities reported that Onche had allegedly given Akpan about ₦14 million to keep or invest ahead of their planned marriage. Police suspected the killing may have been carried out to avoid repaying the money.
The native doctor also claimed that Akpan sought assistance in performing a so-called “money ritual.” According to the statement, Akpan allegedly convinced Onche to accompany him to a forested area in Adum, within Obi LGA, under the pretense of carrying out spiritual prayers to ensure a successful marriage.
Investigators said Onche was allegedly instructed to kneel and pray during the ritual when she was shot in the head. Her body was then buried in a shallow grave in the Edi‑Anyoga Forest, where it remained for nearly two years.
Police exhumed Onche’s remains in 2021 after suspects led investigators to the burial site. Her family later conducted a formal burial ceremony in June 2021.
As of late 2025 and early 2026, the case remains before the courts as Nigeria’s judicial process continues through testimony and evidence stages.
Under Nigerian law, a conviction for culpable homicide can carry the death penalty, typically by hanging.
The killing of Josephine Cynthia Onche has remained one of the most disturbing cases linked to alleged ritual practices and financial motives in recent years, highlighting concerns about violent crime and superstition-driven killings in parts of the country.
Post a Comment