Juliana Francis
Following the demand for an investigation by a nongovernmental organization, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the Imo State Police Command has arrested a hotelier over the torture of a young man alleged to have stolen a phone belonging to a soldier.
It was gathered that Operatives of Obowo Divisional Headquarters arrested the owner of ‘Our Guest House’, Umulogho, Obowo, Mr Ibe Obasi, 38, who was allegedly involved in the murder of a 25-year-old Ebuka Udemba, an indigene of Umuokpa in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.
The State Police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Okoye Henry, said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was tortured and locked up inside the generator room of the said guest house by the suspect and two others at large, where he suffocated to death, on the accusation of stealing a customer’s handset.
“Accordingly, the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri for consolidation of the ongoing investigation. He has provided useful information that will assist the determined operatives in arresting all the suspects in connection to the case.”
The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma has tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID to carry out a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the remote circumstances surrounding the death of the victim and ensure that all the suspects involved are arrested and made to the full wrath of the law.
While commiserating with the families, friends, and relatives of the victim, the CP condemned the cruel act and called on the people of Obowo LGA, particularly the residents of Umulogho to refrain from taking laws into their hands as the Command was on top of the situation.
He added that the Command has commenced a thorough investigation to apprehend the suspects linked to the case of murder and bring them to book.
