The Killing of Miss Vera Uwaila after being raped by an unknown person(s) has sparked outrage and protests in Banin, Lagos, and Abuja. The social media has also been flooded with the hashtag #JusticeForUwa.
The Protest has gotten to the number one citizen of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, who took to his verified Twitter to condemn the killing and urged the police to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.
He tweeted, “I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Uwaila Omozuwa. I expect the Nigeria Police Force to speedily and diligently investigate this case and ensure that all the culprits responsible for this barbaric act are brought to justice.”
The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, also condemned the injustice melted on the undergraduate. Tinubu says this in a tweet yesterday. He writes:
“For far too long women and young girls in our nation have suffered the pain, hurt and stigma of gender-based violence and abuse. Too many have been hurt, intimidated, and bullied. Too many have died. Such violence is inexcusable. There is nothing that can defend this wrongdoing.
“All of us are born of a woman and nurtured of woman. Vera Uwaila Omozuwa is the most recent name on a list, far too long, of women who have lost their lives at the hands of these vile criminals. Today, I rise in solidarity with women in Nigeria to say #enoughisenough. #JusticeforUwa #JusticeforJennifer #JusticeforTina #JUSTICE for all victims of gender-based violence.”
Uwaila was killed after she was raped inside the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Miracle Sanctuary Mega Parish, Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City on May 27, 2020. The report has it that she went to read in the church.
However, on Tuesday, the Edo State Police Command said it has arrested a suspect in connection with the rape and murder of the Uwaila. Uwaila is a 100-level Microbiology student at the University of Benin. The Police said the suspect was identified through his fingerprint.
The spokesperson of the command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspect was arrested after the screening of the fingerprints on the fire extinguisher which was alleged to have been used to smash the Uwaila’s head.
Nwabuzor added that the police arrested the suspect after the Area Command of the Ikpoba Hill Police Station mobilized his men to the scene of the incident.
He said, “The item used for the assault, which was a fire extinguisher, was recovered; the operatives, who were with some specialists, screened the fingerprints, which led to the suspect around the scene of the incident and he was arrested.”
In a related development, the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the investigation of Uwaila’s killing from the Edo State Police Command to the Police Headquarters, Abuja.
The directive of the IG is in coincidence with the earlier report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the state command in the investigation of the killing.
Now, both the suspect in connection with the killing and the case file will be transferred to the Police Headquarters in Abuja
According to the Police Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, in a statement on Tuesday, he said, “The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Anthony Ogbizi, will henceforth provide direct supervision and ensure a speedy and thorough investigation of the case.”
