Rivers Police arrest suspect who raped pregnant woman to death

The Rivers State Police said they had arrested a suspect, Emeka, on suspicion of raping and killing a pregnant woman, Mrs Chigbewejim Steward.

The suspect is said to have come with a gang of men who raped and gang-raped the victim to death in Abarikpo community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of ​​the state.

As our correspondent has learnt, on February 12, 2023, a disagreement arose between the suspect and the deceased, after which he and his gang broke into the victim’s house at midnight to kidnap her.

City tour learned that Chigbewejim, who was five months pregnant at the time, was taken to an unknown location where Emeka and his gang allegedly raped her to death.

Emeka is said to have fled the community after realising that the police were on his tail.

However, he was arrested 15 months later after police discovered his whereabouts.

Chigbewejim’s husband, Lawyer Steward, a pastor of Abarikpo parish, confirmed the arrest in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday and appealed to the government to ensure justice is done in the case.

He said: “Emeka, the mastermind of my wife’s death, argued with her because he said my wife called him an evil person. He told my wife that she would see evil that day.

“That night, on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at around 1am, these bad guys came to my house, broke down the door and took my wife.

“My wife was five months pregnant. Emeka and his gang raped and strangled her. The police arrested him on Thursday. He is now in police custody. I went to the station to give my statement. I want the government to intervene so that justice is done.”

He stated that his deceased wife’s body was discovered near a fish pond a few hours after her abduction and showed numerous bruises and bleeding in the genital area.

When asked for comment, the command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said investigations were ongoing, adding that he (Emeka) had been arrested and the case would be referred to the state Criminal Investigation Department.”