News
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
As Christians across the world celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Administrator of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Mr. Frederick Apiafi, has advised Nigerians to love one another.
Mr. Apiafi said the period should be used for sober reflection and demonstration of love, unity and embracing the message of Easter.
This was contained in his Easter message and made available to media houses yesterday, saying that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has equally given birth to a new season of faith, hope , sacrifice and prosperity.
The administrator further used the forum to call on all indigenes and those doing business in the Local Government Area to be their brothers’ keeper at all times.
“As we celebrate the crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us soberly reflect and demonstrate love and unity particularly indigenes of Opobo/Nkoro,” he said.
Mr. Apiafi reiterated that welfare of workers and the good people of the area would be paramount in his administration.
Seven passengers travelling from Abuja to Kwara State were abducted on Saturday along Obbo-Ayegunle road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Three children of the abducted victims were, however, later released by the unidentified kidnappers, according to reports reaching The Tide’s source in Ilorin yesterday.
The abduction occurred between 17:00-18:00 hours, while the passengers were on board a Sienna vehicle owned by Olumoh Express transport company, heading to Offa from Abuja.
All attempts made so far by the local vigilante to rescue the victims were unsuccessful.
Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development.
“Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus registered FFA 50XD, heading to Offa from Abuja and forcefully abducted seven occupants including the driver.
“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly to the scene.
“The vehicle was recovered to the nearest police formation. During a coordinated search of the surrounding bush, three children aged between two and 12 years were located and safely rescued.
“One of the children was able to give the police detailed information of her guardian who was contacted and the three rescued children have been reunited with their relatives,” the statement added.
The command said it has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering and sustained bush combing to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reiterated the commitment of the command to the safety and protection of all residents, urging those with useful information to report through the established channels of the state police command.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has set machinery in motion to complete ongoing projects this year in line with its new policy thrust.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication while addressing participants during the Project’s first quarter interactive session with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt, said the agency is this year, drawing from a new policy thrust that prioritises timely completion of all projects within stated timelines.
The Project Coordinator noted that as a community-based project, HYPREP understands the urgency of protecting the environment and improving livelihoods in line with its mandate.
He disclosed that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration(CEER) for example, is currently being painted, as part of its final finishing works, stressing that HYPREP is ensuring that the centre is commissioned this year for public use.
According to him, the Technical Planning Committee for the CEER had submitted its report which contains various recommendations for the operationalisation of the centre.
He further disclosed that the shoreline remediation project is at a completion rate of 39.4 percent, saying, HYPREP has in this area recovered, evaluated and treated over 937,000 litres of oily sludge from the mangrove sediment, as well as evacuated over 1.7million kilogrammes of solid waste from the Ogoni creeks.
According to him, the mangrove restoration project has reached 86 percent completion rate, while the monitoring of the planted mangrove grids is progressing well.
He said HYPREP has also initiated a practical framework for long-term monitoring to ensure the Project’s objectives are met.
The Project Coordinator said HYPREP has achieved significant milestones in the ongoing construction of new water facilities in Ogoni communities, stressing that it is determined to commission the new water facilities in the various communities in the third quarter of this year.
He assured the participants that HYPREP would commission water facilities every two months in Ogoni communities.
Zabbey announced that the Creative Arts training for more Ogoni youths would begin in the second quarter of the year, while other array of interventions to support small and medium scale businesses would be rolled out in the coming weeks.
He revealed that the construction of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital has advanced to a completion rate of 70 percent, while that of Buan Cottage Hospital has reached 93.8 percent.
He also disclosed that in March, the Project Coordination Office took delivery of the first batch of equipment and electrical parts for the Ogoni Power Project, and expects further deliveries in this second quarter.
Zabbey said HYPREP has also deepened its engagement with critical stakeholders, including Ogoni youths and women, adding that this periodic interactive session remains a key part of its yearly work plan to ensure that their voices are heard.
He hinted that some selected youth leaders would benefit from the second batch of the Ogoni traditional rulers and other key stakeholders workshop on mechanism for alternative dispute resolution.
At the interactive session, Dr Sorbarikor Lebura of the Rivers State University delivered a keynote address on how to be on the right side of history, and encouraged Ogoni youths to always strive to be on the right side of history through their actions.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee told the participants that the project is working hard to close out on the training of 5,000 Ogoni youths and women by ensuring that all trainees get their starter packs.
She assured persons living with disabilities in particular that HYPREP would provide more empowerment opportunities to them.
Also, the Head of Potable Water Unit, Mr Lucky Ikue announced that the Terebor water scheme, which had been out of use for some time now, due to technical glitches, would be functional soon, as the station manager has been relieved of his duties.
By: Donatus Ebi
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