Horror in Abuja: School Principal, Guards Arrested as Toddler, Nurse Are Murdered After N3m Ransom

Te Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested several individuals, including the principal of Clear Hope School in Dawaki, Abuja, over the alleged kidnap and murder of a 14-month-old child and a school nurse after collecting a ransom of N3 million. The Commissioner of Police, Saka Adewale Ajao, announced on Friday that the primary suspect, a security guard named David Moses, was apprehended following an intensive investigation. He is accused of conspiring with another suspect, Sunday Irimiya—currently on the run—to carry out the gruesome crime.

According to CP Ajao, the victims—Mrs. Chinyere Anaene, a 55-year-old school nurse and caregiver, and Nanenter Asher Yese, a toddler aged one year and two months—were declared missing on July 23, 2025. That same day, a ransom demand of N250 million was made through the caregiver’s mobile phone. Despite having already killed both victims, the suspects later lowered their demand and collected N3 million from the family under the false pretense that the victims were still alive.

In addition to Moses, the police have arrested the principal of Clear Hope School, two other security guards, and the Chief Security Officer of the private security company that assigned Moses to the school. During interrogation, Moses confessed to the crime, stating that he and Sunday planned the kidnapping and initially demanded a larger ransom but eventually settled for N3 million. He revealed that a violent disagreement over the ransom led to Sunday stabbing him and fleeing with the money.

Speaking to journalists, Moses recounted that Sunday had strangled the nurse after luring her into a trap under the guise of inspecting something near a toilet. Despite Moses’ initial resistance, Sunday insisted on also killing the child, arguing that a single victim would not justify the ransom. Moses ultimately complied and brought the baby, who was subsequently killed.

“I have never killed or kidnapped before. This was the first time someone pushed me into any evil act,” Moses claimed. He also noted that the nurse had been kind to him and had even given him money for food on the day of the incident.

Zachariah Fiyinfoluwa, a representative of the security company that employed Moses, admitted that the company failed in its duty to document Moses’ employment properly and lacked adequate oversight. He stated that supervisors were expected to monitor security personnel at deployment sites but could not confirm whether such checks were carried out at Clear Hope School. He accepted responsibility for the company’s failure to maintain employment records and acknowledged that he was only informed about the victims’ disappearance after the school principal raised an alarm.

The case remains under investigation as police continue the manhunt for the fugitive suspect, Sunday Irimiya.