Revealed: How UoN student was murdered after family failed to raise Ksh.1,500 ransom

Moments after Citizen TV aired a story of Nicholas Mutua Mutia, who was arrested in connection with the disappearance and alleged brutal murderof Jane Atila, more victims continued to emerge with damning revelations incriminating the suspect.

On Tuesday, two female victims recorded their statements at the Kikuyu Police Station, saying Mutua abducted them while within KEFRI forest in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. They were allegedly robbed, tortured and sexually abused by the suspect and in some cases beaten and left for the dead.

“Aliniambia ‘hutaenda na ntakuua…nimeua wangapi? nImekunywa damu ya wangapi? Ata wewe ujue siku yako ni leo.’ Na kitu alikuwa anataka ni pesa,” one of the victims told Citizen TV on condition of anonymity.

“Nilikuwa na pesa…lakini hiyo siku sukubeba hiyo simu yenye ilikuwa na pesa…akaniambia nimpatie mpaka M-Pesa PIN…hiyo siku at ani Mungu alinisaidia.”

Police now have their testimonies as part of their evidence against Mutua as they urge more victims with similar encounters to come forward.

As this happened, fresh details of a phone call conversation claimed to be between Mutua and Jane's family has revealed a man who was on a mission. In the phone call recording, Mutua is heard allegedly demanding money from Jane's family and threatening them on the night she disappeared.

The family says Mutua demanded for Ksh.2,500 from them. Jane's brother managed to send him Ksh.1,000, and when he didn't send the extra Ksh.1,500, Jane was allegedly killed.

“Alisema kwamba yeye ndio ako na dada yangu, na hatamwachilia mpaka atakapo pata pesa kutoka kwangu. Nilijaribu kuenda kuripoti mara mbili Kabete Police Station, lakini nilirudishwa kwa gate mara zote mbili wakidismiss story yangu,” Jane’s brother Patrick Mwangale said.

Jane's mutilated body was later discovered on October 17 while decomposing inside KEFRI forest. A finger print analysis on Tuesday positively identified the body as that of Jane, leaving her family more devastated.

Jane was a second year University of Nairobi student at Kikuyu campus. She was reported missing on October 3, 2025.

Human rights activists now blame police for laxity in investigating these cases when they are reported. Police are also holding two more suspects in connection to the murder.