₦airaland Forum

Two Nigerian nationals, Thinedu Chukwu, 39, and Ikena Obi, 43, have been arrested and charged by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in connection with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a 49-year-old man in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga.

The arrests follow a rapid investigation into the disappearance of the victim, Gift Combrinck.

Provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Thulisile Magagula, provided details on the sequence of events:

"A missing person case was opened on 23 September 2025 after Gift Combrinck from Kellysville, Lydenburg, was reported missing."

“Tragically, on 25 September 2025, the body of Mr Combrinck was discovered near De Clerq Street in Lydenburg. Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim was kidnapped, which led to the arrest of the two suspects,” said Magagula.

Both Chukwu and Obi have since been formally charged with kidnapping and murder.

The two accused men appeared before the Mashishing Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.

The case was postponed to October 2, 2025. The purpose of the postponement is for the verification of the suspects' travel documents and to allow the investigating team to conduct further investigation.

Meanwhile, the acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the arrests and expressed confidence in the police’s ongoing work.

“We trust that justice will prevail and that a thorough investigation will be conducted,” said Mkhwanazi.

SmartPolician:
I think it's too early to say whether they committed the crime or not. Let's wait for police investigation and judgement passed on the matter. Anyone can be picked up for a come they didn't commit

helinues:
And then some intolerant SA people would take advantage of this to attack other Nigerians.

The story is everywhere, same culprits soiling Nigeria's name in the mud always

SmartPolician:
I think it's too early to say whether they committed the crime or not. Let's wait for police investigation and judgement passed on the matter. Anyone can be picked up for a come they didn't commit

lionshare:
We need to do better as a people, otherwise profiling will continue. There are other nationals in the same country that SAPS could have arrested.

beerfraud:
May be he refused to pay for the drugs they supplied to him

helinues:
And small time, they would be shouting everyone hates them. Would you be loved with the continuation of criminal activities outside Nigeria!

alizma:
This news is half baked, the preliminary investigation showed he was kidnapped and the next thing is arresting two Nigerians, no info on how they were link to the victim. Is

Two Nigerian nationals, Thinedu Chukwu, 39, and Ikena Obi, 43, have been arrested and charged by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in connection with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a 49-year-old man in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga.

helinues:
And then some intolerant SA people would take advantage of this to attack other Nigerians.

The story is everywhere, same culprits soiling Nigeria's name in the mud always

Saturnalia:
Is it not better for the South Afrikans to bar ALL Nigerians from coming into their Country, since a particular Nigerian Tribe has sworn to destroy every Country on the Globe with their criminal activities?

Any small thing now, they will start shouting Xenophobia but they will never mention or address what triggered the Xenophobia.

After all, Ancient wisdom teaches us that action begets reaction, cause begets effect & sequence begets consequence.

alizma:
This news is half baked, the preliminary investigation showed he was kidnapped and the next thing is arresting two Nigerians, no info on how they were link to the victim. Is