Ifeanyi Dike a second year student of
Physics department at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), and Ugochukwu
Nwamiro has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of an
eight-year-old girl, Victory Chikamso Nmezuwuba by high court in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.
Physics department at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), and Ugochukwu
Nwamiro has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of an
eight-year-old girl, Victory Chikamso Nmezuwuba by high court in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.
They were sentenced to death without
the chance of a fine. One is to be hanged by his neck until he dies, and the
other is to be hanged on his leg until he dies.
the chance of a fine. One is to be hanged by his neck until he dies, and the
other is to be hanged on his leg until he dies.
Dike, who was 23 years old when the
incident occurred, was apprehended by a local vigilance group in Port
Harcourt’s Eliozu axis with a sack containing the body of Chikamso following a
tip-off. Subsequently, the local security team handed Dike over to the police
for further investigation and prosecution.
incident occurred, was apprehended by a local vigilance group in Port
Harcourt’s Eliozu axis with a sack containing the body of Chikamso following a
tip-off. Subsequently, the local security team handed Dike over to the police
for further investigation and prosecution.
Dike reportedly removed the victim’s
eyes, vagina, finger and tongue, after defiling and murdering her with the
assistance of his cousin, Ugochukwu.
eyes, vagina, finger and tongue, after defiling and murdering her with the
assistance of his cousin, Ugochukwu.
Few days after he was handed over to
the police, Dike escaped from the premises of the State Criminal Investigation
Department (SCID), with the aid of a police personnel on duty, Sgt Johnbosco
Okoronze, who failed to handcuff the suspect after he had finished writing his
statement.
the police, Dike escaped from the premises of the State Criminal Investigation
Department (SCID), with the aid of a police personnel on duty, Sgt Johnbosco
Okoronze, who failed to handcuff the suspect after he had finished writing his
statement.
Dike’s escape raised severe criticisms
and condemnation for the police laxity even as the then Rivers State
Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, described it as unfortunate and an
embarrassment to the police force.
and condemnation for the police laxity even as the then Rivers State
Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, described it as unfortunate and an
embarrassment to the police force.
Some weeks later, Dike was however
rearrested in Jos, Plateau State capital by security operatives and was brought
back to Port Harcourt for trial. During trial, the police prosecutor, Sgt.
Blessing Oheyen, tendered the body parts of the victim as evidence to the court.
rearrested in Jos, Plateau State capital by security operatives and was brought
back to Port Harcourt for trial. During trial, the police prosecutor, Sgt.
Blessing Oheyen, tendered the body parts of the victim as evidence to the court.
Barely three years after trial
commenced, the judge, Justice Adolphus Enebele, ruled that the evidences before
the court showed that the duo conspired and murdered Chimkamso and hence,
sentenced them to death.
commenced, the judge, Justice Adolphus Enebele, ruled that the evidences before
the court showed that the duo conspired and murdered Chimkamso and hence,
sentenced them to death.
The judge also sentenced Sergeant
Johnbosco Okoronze of the State CID to one year imprisonment for aiding the
escape of Dike from police custody.
Johnbosco Okoronze of the State CID to one year imprisonment for aiding the
escape of Dike from police custody.
Family of the victim, Chikamso,
expressed relief on the judgment while relatives of Dike were seen in court
weeping after the judgment was passed.
expressed relief on the judgment while relatives of Dike were seen in court
weeping after the judgment was passed.
It was gathered that Dike and the
victim lived both on Messiah Street, Eliozu in Port Harcourt.
victim lived both on Messiah Street, Eliozu in Port Harcourt.
Father of the slain girl, Ernest
Nmezuwuba, had told the police he was filled with grief after seeing the
mutilated body of his daughter. He expressed shock that Dike could contemplate
killing his daughter. “The man who killed my daughter is like my brother,
someone very close to me, I can call him my cousin.”
Nmezuwuba, had told the police he was filled with grief after seeing the
mutilated body of his daughter. He expressed shock that Dike could contemplate
killing his daughter. “The man who killed my daughter is like my brother,
someone very close to me, I can call him my cousin.”
Narrating how his daughter got missing
and eventually killed, Nmezuwuba recalled that Chikamso had requested bread for
breakfast, which he father bought for her before he left for work.
and eventually killed, Nmezuwuba recalled that Chikamso had requested bread for
breakfast, which he father bought for her before he left for work.
Nmezuwuba said when he returned home
around 3:00p.m. and learnt that his daughter was missing, he immediately began
a search. When the search became fruitless, he reported the matter to the
police.
around 3:00p.m. and learnt that his daughter was missing, he immediately began
a search. When the search became fruitless, he reported the matter to the
police.
“So, around 1:30 a.m. security men
said that they had seen my daughter and that I should come and see the man that
kidnapped her. I was in my shorts and I rushed to the place with the security
agents. I was told that the person that killed my daughter was caught while
carrying a load in a sack. The policemen said when they confronted him, he said
he wanted to take it to the dustbin.
said that they had seen my daughter and that I should come and see the man that
kidnapped her. I was in my shorts and I rushed to the place with the security
agents. I was told that the person that killed my daughter was caught while
carrying a load in a sack. The policemen said when they confronted him, he said
he wanted to take it to the dustbin.
When I got there, I asked, “Where
is my daughter?” They’ve given me a bag. When I opened it, I saw my
daughter; I peeped and watched very well, the two eyes were off, the tongue was
gone, one of the breasts was off, one of the fingers, the smaller one was off.
I watched the middle, he carved it out (vagina). As I turned back and saw him,
he (Dike) looked down at the ground.
is my daughter?” They’ve given me a bag. When I opened it, I saw my
daughter; I peeped and watched very well, the two eyes were off, the tongue was
gone, one of the breasts was off, one of the fingers, the smaller one was off.
I watched the middle, he carved it out (vagina). As I turned back and saw him,
he (Dike) looked down at the ground.
