Nelly Akomah, aged 76, a respected member of the United Kingdom chapter of the Methodist Church Nigeria, was allegedly killed by intruders in her home.
The tragic murder of Akomah came to light when her concerned sister, unable to reach her, visited her residence on Ladbrook Road, Thornton Heath, in south London. To her shock, she discovered Akomah’s lifeless body on Wednesday morning.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Akomah’s neighbors revealed that her house’s CCTV system had been compromised, and the house alarm had been disconnected the night before the burglary took place.
Despite the police launching a manhunt to apprehend the attackers, described as a significant loss by the church president, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Kamaleta Blake, a resident of the area, expressed her belief that Akomah’s home security had been disabled before the attack. She stated, “They are looking at murder now — it’s because she had a black eye. The alarm had been disconnected, and that’s why they are doing forensics.”
Neighbors described Akomah as a wonderful and devoted member of the congregation. She was found at the bottom of the stairs, and the assumption is that an intruder had entered her home, possibly with the intent to steal, and a confrontation occurred.
Expressing deep sorrow, another neighbor said, “We are heartbroken; she was our neighbor for 20 years. A lovely churchgoing woman. She was always very well dressed. She was not doddery; she was very strong and always out doing her own shopping. She certainly wouldn’t have just fallen down the stairs. Just a smart, smiley lady.”
The church’s president, Dame Susan Solanke, conveyed her anguish in a statement, recalling their recent time together at a retreat and emphasizing Akomah’s significant contribution to their mission. She expressed hope that the culprits would be swiftly brought to justice.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Squad urged the public to refrain from posting on social media about the incident out of respect for the deceased’s family and to allow the police to conduct their investigation. She appealed to anyone with information or relevant footage to come forward and assist in the investigation.
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