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Serial Killings: Number Of Dead Victims Hits 15 …Police Hunt For More Suspects
The Police in Rivers State said they have confirmed that the total number of women killed by the suspected serial killer, Gracious David-West is now 15.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura disclosed this to newsmen at the Command’s Headquarters on Moscow Road, after he inaugurated a task force to enforce the installation of CCTV cameras in all hotels in the state.
Dandaura said that after further investigations, the suspect confessed to have killed a total of nine young women in Rivers and six outside the state.
“After we did the last press conference, he admitted to killing only five. After the press conference, we interrogated him further. We took him round all the hotels one by one where he did the killings.
“He led us to the rooms where he booked and killed those eight people, and he confirmed that he killed more. He has killed nine here (Rivers State). He has killed one in Lagos; he killed one in Owerri; he killed one in Sapele (Delta State); he has killed one in Aba (Abia State); he has killed one in Benin (Edo State); he has killed one in Ibadan (Oyo State).
“So, now we have 15, including nine from Port Harcourt, six from outside this state. This was after we paraded him last week. After we paraded him, so many state commands have been calling to say this was the same man who strangled a woman in their place.”
The state police boss, however, said investigation was ongoing to ascertain whether they were other suspected serial killers in Port Harcourt apart from the three arrested so far.
“We don’t know whether he is the only person doing it or whether there are other group members. We have interrogated him further, and he told us he is the only person doing this, that he does not move with anybody. But we are not going to take that. We will continue to pursue them.”
While warning that the command would no longer allow hotels in the state operate without security cameras, he urged the newly inaugurated task force headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Valentine Olumese, to extend their operation beyond the Port Harcourt metropolis.
“Gentlemen, we have to enforce these guidelines. It is very important that we enforce it. If we had this on the ground, we would not have recorded this number of casualties. So, I want to urge the committee to make sure that they go round and make sure that any hotel operator, not only in Port Harcourt because there are hotels in local government areas, who flouts the directive is arrested and prosecuted.
“You must go round and tell them that they either follow these guidelines or close their hotels. They must install these CCTV cameras and do proper documentation of their guests. Go round in all these hotels in the state and enforce these guidelines, otherwise, we don’t know what will happen in the future. We don’t know whether he is doing this thing alone. For now, we just believe he is the only person doing it.
“We are not going to take chances. We will continue to pursue them. I have clearly instructed the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to visit the hotels every day and checkmate their activities.
“We owe it a duty to make sure that these guidelines are complied with. Any hotel that is found wanting, we have a way we will close it. If you report to us, we will seal that place,” Dandaura added.
The Tide reports that the 12-man special task force includes four policemen, four members of the Nigerian Hotels’ Association, three from Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and one representing Department of State Services (DSS).
However, disturbed by incessant incidents of serial killing in the state, the Rivers State House of Assembly has warned that it would sanction hotels which disobey police directives to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in their facilities.
The Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee on Serial Killing in the state, Hon Kelechi Wogu, gave the warning when he led members of his committee on a visit to the state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura at his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Wogu, who is the lawmaker representing Omuma Constituency in the state Legislature, said if the directives given to hotel owners were strictly complied with, the number of deaths recorded as a result of the activities of the serial killer would have been averted.
He expressed sadness over the sad development, and assured the police of the support of the 32-member Assembly.
According to him, “We are looking at the time you gave that directive as the commissioner of police that they should install CCTV cameras, and they all agreed and left.
“We as an Assembly won’t spare those hotels that failed to comply with your directives because if those directives were complied with, we would not have lost more lives. The fact is that you have saved lives. If you had not apprehended that miscreant by now, we would have recorded other killings,” the lawmaker said,
Wogu further said that following the committee’s investigations, it was discovered that the number of women allegedly killed by the suspect has increased from the earlier nine.
While commending the efforts of the police in carrying out due diligence in their investigation, he advised hotel owners to ensure the safety of lives and property in their facilities by recording details of customers who visit there.
“We, Rivers people are not interested in only the serial killer. We are interested in the serial killers because we still believe that they are more. While investigation is going on, more facts will emerge.
“We strongly believe that one man wearing one cloth for over 15 crimes committed in different days must be mysterious even when you know you are being shown in the social media. People are looking at you, if not that I watched the clip and saw when he said that he ties them, because I wanted to ask why after killing them, why still tying them?”
He also urged the Nigerian police to do their best to unravel others involved because David-West may not be working alone in the killings, just as he asked the police to shut down the hotel where the manager concealed the activities of the suspected serial killer when he lodged there.
In his speech, the state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura said investigations were still ongoing on the case of the serial killing, and urged members of the public to always provide information to the police to help them in fighting crime in the state.
He said, “If all the hotels where he did the previous killings gave us his identity immediately, he wouldn’t have succeeded in killing this number of women.”
Dennis Naku
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.