The Rivers State Police Command said it has arrested 16 people involved in the barbaric killing of a female Police Inspector, Mrs. Christiana Erekere.
Spokesperson of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The deceased was hacked to death by youths numbering over 40, at her duty post at Taabaa in Khana Local Government Area of the state, last Thursday. The victims, a widow and mother of four children, were reportedly killed with stones and sticks by the irate youths.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, led some senior officers of the command to the victim’s family, noting that Christiana was killed in the line of duty.
Iringe-Koko said: “The Rivers State Police Command announces the arrest of 16 people in connection with the tragic death of Inspector Christiana Erekere, who was murdered in the line of duty on April 25, 2024, at approximately 4pm.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred when a group of individuals traveling in a Lexus salon car was stopped for routine checks at the checkpoint in front of Bori Police Station.
“However, the occupants became agitated and proceeded to barricade the road, obstructing the movement of other vehicles. After completing the necessary checks, the police officers requested that the individuals leave the scene. Unfortunately, they refused, alleging that Inspector Erekere had recorded a video of their disruptive behaviour using her mobile phone.
“In their attempt to seize Inspector Erekere’s phone forcefully, they launched a violent attack against her, striking her with stones. The severity of the assault caused Inspector Erekere to lose consciousness and she was immediately transported to Nnadum Hospital in Bori. Regrettably, she succumbed to the injuries sustained during the attack.
“The Rivers State Police Command has initiated a thorough investigation into this abhorrent incident, and all individuals involved will be apprehended and brought to justice. The command extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased colleague during this difficult time.”
It was gathered that the killers were travelling to Akwa Ibom State for a wedding programme before they carried out the tragic act. A source, who witnessed the development, but preferred anonymity, said the youths, who carried out the act, numbered over 40, and that they went on rampage when the police on stop-and-search operation in the area questioned the validity of the document of one of the cars they were travelling on.
The source said the youths had created a scene on the road blocking the major road and demanding that the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who had their car paper, must return it and allow them to go. It said the youths had seen Mrs. Erekere, who was on duty, fiddling with her phone and quickly pounced on her with stones and sticks, claiming that she was making video of them.
The source said: “On April 25, 2024, at about 2:30pm, Inspector Christiana Erekere (female), while on duty at Taabaa Division in Khana local Government Area of Rivers State, was beaten to death by some group of people with three vehicles from Delta State going to Akwa-Ibom State for a marriage ceremony.
“The boys were intercepted at a stop-and-search point, directly opposite the Police Station, Taabaa, by a police officer attached to Taabaa police station. The particulars of one of the vehicles was collected by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) because of unclear explanation concerning the particulars.
“The police officer decided to go to the office, so that he could be furnished with sufficient information. Now, the deceased saw the way the boys were chasing her superior officer and she started raising the alarm for help, so that the attack would be prevented; but, unfortunately, no one was there to assist or prevent the group of people who succeeded in attacking the police station and killing the innocent woman.
“The boys quickly attacked her because they said she was making a video of them. Even when she fainted, they continued beating her and left her and drove away. On their way to Akwa-Ibom, they were apprehended. For now, about 17 people were identified and arrested and others are still at large.”
However, the family of the deceased woman has called for justice over the killing of their sister who was serving the nation before she was attacked and killed. Elder sister to the victim, Mrs. Nule Felix, noted that her sister was mercilessly killed and that she was rushed to a hospital, but was only confirmed dead.
Nule said: “All efforts at the hospital to revive her were abortive. She has been deposited in the mortuary. She was a widow with four children and her aged mother, who is over 80 years. We are seeking justice.”
