The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level Petroleum Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), on charges of brutally murdering his former girlfriend, Justina Otuene, in a disturbing case of suspected money ritual.
Reports suggest that the suspect not only took the life of the 20-year-old victim but also dismembered her body before attempting to conceal the evidence. Justina Otuene was a 300-level student in the Department of Bio-Chemistry at the same institution.
The shocking incident was brought to the attention of the authorities through the actions of a conscientious neighbor of Damian Okoligwe, residing in Mgbu Oba Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The concerned neighbor was struck by a foul odor emanating from the suspect’s premises, leading to the discovery of the heinous crime.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Commissioner of Police Nwonyi Emeka disclosed the gruesome details of the case. He stated, “On Wednesday, 25/10/23, at about 3.30 pm, operatives of Ozuoba Division received a complaint from a good Samaritan and neighbor of Road 20, behind NTA Ozuoba. The neighbor had visited Damian Okoligwe’s residence at approximately 2 p.m., where he encountered the nauseating stench.”
Alarmed by what he had experienced, the neighbor immediately reported the matter to the local police station, prompting the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to lead a team of detectives to the scene. Upon arrival, they forcibly opened the door, revealing a horrifying sight – a dismembered, lifeless body concealed within a “Ghana must-go” bag.
The victim, Justina Otuene, a 20-year-old student in her 300-level of Biochemistry at UNIPORT, had been savagely murdered. Her remains were subsequently transported to the mortuary for further examination.
Commissioner Emeka further revealed that preliminary investigations were underway, and the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough and discreet inquiry.
In a separate development, the Commissioner of Police also announced a successful rescue operation that resulted in the recovery of four children who had been abducted and sold by suspected child traffickers.