Men of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended a suspect named Emeka, accused of leading the gang rape and murder of Mrs. Chigbewejim Steward, the pregnant wife of a pastor, in Abarikpo community, Ahoada East Local Government Area.
On February 12, 2023, after a heated argument with Mrs. Steward earlier that day, Emeka allegedly broke into her home at midnight with his gang, as reported by The Punch.
They kidnapped her and took her to an unknown location.
The suspect fled the community upon learning that the police were pursuing him.
However, he was recently captured and is now in police custody.
Lawyer Steward, an Assistant Pastor with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Abarikpo and the husband of the deceased, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Thursday.
He recounted the tragic events, saying, “Yes, Emeka masterminded the death of my wife after he quarreled with her that my wife called him a wicked man. He told my wife you will see wickedness today. And that night around 1 am February 12, 2023, those bad boys came to my house and broke the door and took my wife away. My wife was five months pregnant. Emeka and his gang raped and strangled her to death. The police arrested him on Thursday. Now he is in police custody. I have gone to the station to give my statement. I want the government to intervene so that justice will prevail. I thank the police for their effort in arresting these bad boys.”
Steward alleged that Emeka and his gang were members of a cult group called ‘In Iceland’.
He stated that when his wife was kidnapped, she was taken to their hideout, where she was gang-raped and murdered.
Her body, discovered near a fishing pond, showed signs of severe bruising and bleeding.
Our correspondent reports that the late Mrs. Steward was outspoken against criminal and cult activities in the Abarikpo community.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, was contacted but had not provided further information at the time of this report.
However, a senior police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed the arrest of Emeka and two other suspects by the Ahoada Police Division.
“It was not only Emeka. Two others were also arrested by the Ahoada Police Division. They are all in custody,” he stated.
