Mohammed Shosanya
The Police in Rivers State have arrested a fleeing suspect, identified as Emeka, accused of raping and strangling Mrs Chigbewejim Steward, the pregnant wife of an assistant pastor in Abarikpo community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers state.
He was apprehended by operatives of the Ahoada Divisional Police headquarters in the state on Thursday after fleeing for 15 months upon committing the heinous crime on February 12, 2023.
Speaking on the circumstances that led the tragic death of his wife, the husband, Mr Lawyer Steward, An assistant Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Abarikpo community,said deceased had a minor altercation with the suspect, where his wife addressed the suspect as a wicked man.
He added that after the quarrel, the suspect mobilised his gang, broke into their house around 1am and whisked away his five months pregnant wife to their forest hideout, where the poor woman was gang raped to death.
He said:“Yes Mr Emeka,he is the mastermind of the death of my wife. After having a quarrel with my wife that morning, my wife called him a wicked man.
”He told my wife you called me wicked man, you will see wickedness today.And that night around 1am breaking Sunday morning 12th February 2023,those bad boys came to my house and broke the door and take my wife away.
“Emeka and his gang raped my wife who was five months pregnant and strangled her to death, Police arrested him last week Thursday. Now he is in the Police custody, I have gone there to give a statement.”
Mr. Steward,who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, begged the government to ensure justice in the matter and not allow the suspect to go scott free.
“I want the Government to intervene so that justice will prevail.”
The husband of the deceased disclosed that his wife’s corpse was discovered close to a fishing pond several hours after she was abducted with multiple bruises and bleeding from her private part.
Mr. Steward noted that the corpse of his wife had been deposited in morgue, added that his late with until her death had fearlessly condemned criminal and cult related activities in Abarikpo community.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
