The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has arrested two Nigerian nationals, Daniel Victor Eze and David Oko Ewa, in connection with the alleged murder of their compatriot, Nkemujika Uzorchukwu, following a dispute over proceeds from online fraud.

According to the GPS, the incident occurred in Tamale on July 12 when officers were called to an apartment in the city where Mr Uzorchukwu was found lying in a pool of his own blood. 

The victim’s wife Peace, the two suspects and another Nigerian named Godwin Nwafor, were believed to be living together in the house.

Police officers who examined Mr Uzorchukwu’s body at the scene found a deep cut on his forehead and a towel stuffed into his mouth. An additional search also led to the recovery of a wooden pestle, which investigators suspect was used in the assault, along with other forensic evidence.

The body was subsequently transported to Tamale Teaching Hospital, where the victim was officially pronounced dead, prompting the GPS to open an investigation into the incident. 

“A team of investigators immediately visited the scene where examination revealed that the deceased had sustained a deep cut wound to the forehead, while a towel had been stuffed into his mouth. The room had also been ransacked,” the GPS said in a statement on Sunday. 

It added, “During the crime scene examination, police recovered a wooden pestle suspected to have been used in the attack, together with other evidential materials for forensic examination. 

“The body was conveyed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical officer before being deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”

Acting on credible intelligence, authorities captured both Messrs Eze and Ewa at Tatale, while they were attempting to cross the border into Togo through the town. The suspects allegedly confessed to murdering Mr Uzorchuku during interrogation, stating that it was because of a clash over money from cyber fraud. 

“Through intelligence-led operations, police intercepted and arrested the two suspects at Tatale on the same day while they were attempting to flee into the Republic of Togo through the Tatale route. They were subsequently handed over to the Tamale District CID to assist with investigations.

“During interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted conspiring to murder the deceased after claiming that he had been withholding proceeds they had obtained through internet fraud activities,” the police added. 

The GPS disclosed that further search carried out by officers resulted in the seizure of several items, including multiple mobile phones, laptop computers, a tablet, jewellery, clothing, wristwatches, personal documents, which were suspected to have been stolen from the victim. 

The suspects would be arraigned on Monday but details of the hearing were yet to be made public as of the time this report was filed.