A young woman identified as Ugochi Success Anosike has been allegedly raped and murdered in her room in Obigbo, Port Harcourt, with reports suggesting that her landlord’s daughter may have played a role in the crime.
The day before, an evangelist and writer caused widespread concern and outrage after announcing the death of her friend on social media.
She had followed up with several updates, including reports of the arrest of the alleged rapist and the landlord’s daughter accused of assisting in the assault.
In her first tweet, the evangelist wrote, “Nigerians, I need your help!!! Please help me call on @PoliceNG. I’m heartbroken as I type this. My family friend was raped and strangled to death in her room at Obigbo Portharcourt on Monday night. Everyone in the compound ran away.
The case is being handled at Obigbo police station. Her body has been deposited in the mortuary. Ugochi and her sisters are helpless orphans who have nobody to fight for them. I’m not posting her full pictures because of the traumatic experience and how it will affect her siblings. We are ready to work with the police to unravel the killer or killers. Please help me repost, help me tag any authority you know who can help.
We are heartbroken. It’s unending tears and agony. Please help our voices get amplified. Please help me tag the Rivers State Police PPRO. Please help me repost!!!”
In subsequent posts, the evangelist alleged that the landlord’s daughter, identified as Chioma, held Ugochi’s legs while the male suspect raped her.
She further claimed that Chioma later urged the man to return and kill Ugochi because she had seen their faces.
The evangelist expressed heartbreak over the revelation that Ugochi had earlier complained to Chioma about harassment from the same man, not knowing she would later assist him.
She also reported that the suspect had been apprehended by the police and allegedly confessed to the crime.
However, she raised alarm after the police informed her that the suspect stabbed himself with a sharp object while writing his statement and was taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Ugochi’s younger sister, CeeCee, expressed gratitude to those advocating for justice and said she hoped her late sister’s killers would be held accountable.
She wrote, “Thank you so much for all the help, your platform has really created not just awareness for my sister’s case but brought good solutions as well. I just pray that my sister gets justice.”
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for justice against gender-based violence and rising insecurity in residential areas across the state.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect in a statement to The Punch on Thursday.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said, “Yes, I can confirm the incident, and the suspect has been arrested. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department. The body of the woman has been deposited in the morgue, and investigation is ongoing. Further details will be made known in due course.”
