A 76-year-old UK-based Nigerian, Nelly Akomah, has been reportedly murdered at her home in Ladbrook Road, Croydon, South London, on Tuesday.
The decease was discovered by ambulance workers, fatally wounded at her home at around 10.40am on Wednesday morning.
Regarding this, a 31-year-old woman and a man aged 28, have been arrested and detained at Stansted Airport on Friday on suspicion of the murder of woman found dead after a suspected burglary, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Detective Chief Inspector, Kate Blackburn said the grandmother was “active in her church and her loss will be keenly felt by many people”.
She also said, “the arrests mark substantial progress in what is a fast-moving investigation.
“I don’t underestimate the level of concern in the local community following this shocking incident and there are various suggestions circulating about what may have happened.
“At this stage, we are investigating the possibility that there was a burglary at Nelly’s address.
“I must stress that our investigation is in its very early stages and we are working to establish what exactly happened.”
Ms Akomah was the leader of the Nigerian Methodist Mission UK and Ireland, and a member of Tooting Methodist Church.
Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination which was conducted on Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, who is responsible for policing in Croydon, said the force is working “diligently” to establish the facts after the “heartbreaking” incident.
Reacting on Facebook, Methodist Church member, Ayodeji Okegbile wrote, “Ms Akomah was our long-standing leader and a beloved mother”.
He added that, “She will always be dearly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with her loving children, grandchildren, family, Tooting Methodist Church, Nigerian Fellowship, and close friends.”
– (SKYNEWS)
