Metro
Family of Ebonyi Teenager Raped, Killed Kicks As Police Release Suspect
The family of a 17-year-old girl, Munachi Obasi-Igwe, who was raped and killed in the Amakporo-Agbebo area of Ebonyi State has decried the release of one of the suspects by the state police.
The victim’s father, Paul Obasi-Igwe, queried why the suspect was released without being charged to court.
Paul and his daughter, who were from Amakporo Onicha village, went to a neighbouring town, Agbebo Isu, to grind cassava.
Munachi, a Senior Secondary School one pupil at Winners International Secondary School, Amakporo Onicha, was reportedly left by her father in the care of some elderly women, who also queued up for the same purpose.
The victim was said to have headed back home without her father, who had not returned to pick her up after the cassava grounder was done and the shop closed.
On her way back, she was allegedly attacked by some hoodlums, as no fewer than four men raped and killed her before dumping her body in the bush.
Some members of the gang were later arrested.
Paul said one of them was granted bail without the knowledge of the family.
He said, “This sad incident almost resulted in a war between the two communities as my village people were already on ground but the elders of the town intervened and the residents took her corpse to a mortuary with a promise to produce the culprits within seven days.
“The leader of the gang was caught after four days of search and he named three other people involved, making four, who gang-raped and killed my daughter.
“The police told us that the fourth person could not be arrested because he gave an alibi and the rest were transferred to the Abakaliki police headquarters for further investigation.
“The gang leader confessed to the police that my daughter was raped and murdered.”
A family member, Onyegbuchi Obasi-Igwe, told PUNCH Metro that an officer confirmed to him that one of the suspects had been released.
He said, “I met with the Investigating Police Officer, Benice Ugwuanyin, who said only one of the suspects claimed to have committed the act. But one person can’t overpower the girl and from the comments gathered at Agbebo Isu community, it is one of the associates that passed a knife to the suspect who slaughtered the deceased.
“The IPO telephoned me a day after and asked me to come to the station but I told her that I would not be able to make it. During our conversation on the phone that day, she said they have released one of the suspects on bail and I responded that it’s not proper to release a rape and murder suspect on bail without informing the family of the deceased and she explained further that the released suspect would return and they would all be charged to court.
“We visited the station the following day and met the IPO’s immediate boss who denied that anybody was released.
“We are appealing to the government of Ebonyi State, well-meaning individuals of the community and Nigerians to come to our aid and ensure that the perpetrators are made to pay for their crime.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chris Anyanwu, had yet to respond to the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called for the dismissal of the soldier who resisted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The soldier had blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a portion of land in the FCT.
The officer, claiming he was acting on instructions, told Wike that he would not be allowed into the property. Wike, however, questioned his authority, leading to a heated confrontation and name calling.
Reacting on Facebook, Igbokwe questioned who was behind the military officer in challenging the FCT Minister.
He wrote, “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed.”
The Lagos State Police Command has vehemently denied reports making the rounds that it was involved in the attempted release of a Lebanese national, who is in custody for the defilement of eight children.
The Police made the rebuttal via a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Lagos, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
In the statement titled, RE: OUTRAGE AS LAGOS POLICE ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPT TO RELEASE LEBANESE ACCUSED OF DEFILING EIGHT CHILDREN, the Police noted as follows:
“The Lagos State Police Command is not involved in any alleged attempt to release a Lebanese accused of defiling eight children.“
The story is therefore inaccurate and misleading.
The above case is being handled discreetly by the Gender Unit of the Command with the highest level of professionalism, diligence, and in line with international best practices, by specially trained gender case specialists.
Furthermore, the investigation strictly follows the standard operating procedures for cases involving children and young persons. The Gender Unit of the Command remains firmly committed to child protection and upholding due process in the pursuit of justice, without fear, favour, or sentiment toward anyone involved, whether a foreign national or Nigerian.
The case in question, which is under thorough investigation, does not involve any Lebanese, but rather a national of one of the Southern African countries. Every necessary step has been taken to ensure that justice is served in the matter. It is important to inform the public that both the biological mother of the child and the child herself made statements to the Police affirming that the child was neither molested nor defiled by the accused person.
However, the complaint by the child’s father, who has custody of the child, on his allegations against the accused person, is being carefully investigated to ensure justice in the matter and prevent any miscarriage of justice. The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has directed a discreet investigation into the allegations highlighted by the reporter in the report to ensure that no stone is left unturned in getting to the root of the matter . The writer of the story has also been contacted and briefed on the steps being taken by the Police to ensure that justice is achieved.
The Commissioner of Police furthermore wishes to reiterate his full confidence in the impartiality, competence, and high level of professionalism in the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, Lagos Police Command,Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Toyin Kazeem, who was officially out of the country on IACP in the United States when the matter was reported to the Gender Unit. Her exemplary track record, both locally and internationally, exemplifies her integrity, dedication, and commitment to handling gender-related and other sensitive cases. Under her leadership, the Gender Unit has brought pride to the Command and provided justice to numerous vulnerable persons, including women and children.
The Lagos State Police Command therefore urges the public and the media to continue to repose trust and confidence in the ability of the Command to deliver justice in all cases, particularly those involving children and other vulnerable groups. The outcome of this case will be made known to the public on completion of the investigation.
The family of former President Shehu Shagari has announced the death of his last surviving widow, Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari.
She passed away on Monday at the age of 89, after a prolonged illness.
A statement signed by the eldest son of the former president, Captain Mohammed Bala Shagari, confirmed that Saratu died at about 3 pm.
He described the late Hajiya Saratu as an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength, who lived a life of dignity and service.
The family also said details of the funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
