UNIBEN Undergraduate Death: IGP Orders Transfer Of Case To Force Headquarters For Investigation

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the ongoing investigations into the inhuman sexual assault and death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa which occurred recently in Benin, Edo State from the Police State Headquarters, Benin to the Force headquarters, Abuja. 

Recall Adamu yesterday Monday, deployed more investigations aids to Edo State to unravel the circumstances surrounding the brutal attack and unfortunate death of Omozuwa.

The Force, in a statement, said the additional investigators will provide “forensic support to Edo State Police Command to complement and expedite actions in the ongoing investigations into the unfortunate incident”.

But it was disclosed in another statement released by the Force on Tuesday, that the IGP’s new directive to transfer the case to the Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation, is sequel to the preliminary report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the Edo State Police Command in the investigations into the unfortunate incident. 

“The DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael, will henceforth provide direct supervision and ensure speedy and thorough investigation of the case,” the statement added.

“In a similar vein, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of specialized investigators and additional investigation assets to all the Gender Desks Offices and the Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWC) across the country.

“This is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Units to respond to increasing challenges of sexual assaults and domestic/gender-based violence linked with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and other social ills within the country.”

Adamu further called on members of the public to provide the police useful information that could aid investigations into ongoing cases of sexual assaults and domestic/gender-based violence across the country. 

He also urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children and wards in these trying times.

Meanwhile a sister to the 22-year-old deceased accused the Nigeria Police of making monetary demands to carry out investigation.

In a video obtained by Sahara Reporters, the sister of the deceased, who spoke with journalists, said some police officers asked them to pay mobilisation fee when the matter was reported to them before they can commence investigation into the case.

The lady said: “I saw a post on social media that police said they called my father but my father refused to come to the station. 

“My father went there several times. The police even insulted him that he was a foolish man, that he was not the first that his daughter would be raped.

“They said they needed mobility money before they can do their job in investigating the death of my sister.

“Some are even saying my sister incident happened on 14th May, my sister incident did not happen on 14th May, it happened on Wednesday, May 27, and she died on Saturday night May 30.”