The Rivers State Police Command has announced the arrest of a prime suspect in the kidnapping and murder of a 25-year-old woman, whose decomposing body was recovered from a shallow grave in a forest locally known as an “evil forest.”

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the suspect was apprehended following a meticulous investigation into the disappearance of the young woman, who was reported missing several days ago.

The breakthrough came after intelligence gathering and technical analysis led operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the suspect’s hideout. During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and led police detectives to the gruesome location where he had disposed of the body.

“The scene was a horrific one,” the statement read in part. “The suspect took our team to a thick forest in the [specify local government area, e.g., Ikwerre] area, a place the community dreads and calls an ‘evil forest.’ There, in a shallow grave, we found the body of the missing victim, already in an advanced state of decomposition.”

The term “evil forest” is a deeply rooted cultural concept in many parts of Nigeria, referring to an area of land believed to be haunted or used for sinister, ritualistic purposes. The discovery of the body in such a location has sent shockwaves through the local community.

The PPRO stated that preliminary investigations suggest the motive may have been ritualistic, a practice often referred to as “money rituals,” where perpetrators believe that human body parts can be used for occult means to acquire wealth.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has condemned the act, describing it as “barbaric and a despicable crime against humanity.” He reassured residents of the state that the command would not rest on its oars in ensuring that all criminal elements are brought to justice.

“The long arm of the law will surely catch up with anyone who engages in such heinous acts,” the CP said. “We are committed to making Rivers State safe for all law-abiding citizens.”

The suspect is currently in police custody and is providing further information that could lead to the arrest of any accomplices. The victim’s body has been evacuated to a morgue for a post-mortem examination, after which it will be released to the family for burial.

The police have confirmed that the suspect will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.