There are strong indications that killer rapists have invaded Rivers State, a development that is giving the authorities and good spirited persons sleepless nights
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
In the Rivers State of possibilities, it is now one day, many troubles for women as sexual violence and gender-based violence have worsened as deadly rapists have invaded the oil rich state turning women into endangered species.
Tentacle learnt that the rapists are on mission with deadly attack on their victims. They have turned it into bloody Rivers and their modus operandi is raping and killing.
The confession of a Rivers man, identified simply as “Black Maria” to the raping and killing of 34 years old Success Ugochi Anosike is a typical example of a nightmare the women are passing through in the hands of deadly rapists.
Before her death, Ugochi was the killer’s neighbor in an apartment building along Okpulo Road, Oyigbo, a suburb of Port Harcourt metropolis. Residents of Oyigbo and surrounding areas have continued to express shock and disbelief over the senseless killing. The neighborhood has been thrown into mourning as friends, family and neighbors struggled to come to terms with the incident.
The deceased who hails from Umuahia in Abia State is an orphan and the breadwinner for the family who will be remembered for her humility, cheerfulness and devotion to her family and church is described as “a light whose shine was cut short too soon”.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice against gender-based violence and rising insecurity in residential areas across the state. Meanwhile, Ugochi’s younger sister, Chichi has expressed gratitude for those advocating for justice and said she hoped her late sister’s killer would be held accountable.
She said “Thank you so much for all the help, your platform has really created not just awareness for my sister’s case but brought good solutions as well. I just pray that my sister gets justice”.
Timothy Ohwojero told Tentacle that this is a heartless and wicked generation, that the funniest thing is that after the arrest, the cases are usually swept underneath the carpet.
In the same vein, the Rivers State coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association, Gloria Anuri Ohia has urged the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to begin signing execution orders for convicted sexual offenders in the state to serve as a deterrent to others.
Anuri Ohia who condemned the rape and killing of Success Anosike in strong term, the AWLA coordinator explained the concept of sexual harassment and urged members of the public to make use of newly established Rivers State Sexual Assault Referral Centre to report cases of sexual assault and rape.
In his own reaction, Ebede Sunday said unless death penalties are promptly signed and carried out swiftly by the governor, these bizarre stories will persist unabated.
According to him, so many convicted murderers still waste food in various prisons looking for pardon that will eventually come. “Military governors know how best to reduce deliberate killings like this, not the present leadership” he said.
Similarly, the National Youth Fellowship of Methodist Youth Church Nigeria, is calling for justice regarding the rape and murder of its member, Amb. Success Anosike. At the time of her tragic death, she served as Youth Secretary of the Oyigbo Circuit in Ndoki – Asa Dioceses of Rivers State.
Following the outcry, the National Youth Fellowship of Methodist Church in Nigeria issued a statement condemning the murder and called for urgent action.
The statement signed by the fellowship’s National President, Amb. Michael Eze and National Secretary, Amb. Emmanuel Anyalewichi, described the killing as a wound that pierces the heart of the fellowship and the nation.
“On Monday night, in the sanctity of her own room, Sister Success was viciously taken away from us. This is not just a loss; it is a wound that pierces the heart of our fellowship and our nation.
“We unequivocally condemned the heinous act of violence and in our grief, we unite our voices in a resolute cry for justice”, the statement read in part.
Tonia George in her comments said that wonders and callous raping and murder of the victims can never end in Nigeria. “The suspect, Black Maria is he a human being? I doubt. It’s left for you security operatives of Port Harcourt to do the needful”.
Meanwhile the Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect, saying he is in the custody. Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police stated, “Yes, I can confirm the incident. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.”
The body of the woman has been deposited in the morgue and investigation is ongoing. Rivers State has in recent years witnessed multiple cases of sexual violence and attack on vulnerable individuals, prompting the state police command to intensify surveillance and community policing in high-risk areas.
Residents in some part of the state have in the past expressed concerns over rising criminal activities leading to heightened security measures by law enforcement.
