UNIPORT: Protest over escape of suspected ritualist

Hundreds protesters, mostly women clad in black attire yesterday took to the streets to demand justice on the killing of eight-year-old Victory Chikamso, were dispersed with teargas.

The protesters demanded that the police to fish out the suspect behind Chikamso’s murder.

The protesters, who marched to the Eliozu Bridge, at about 11am, carried placard and chanted songs of dissatisfaction.

Calling on the police to fish out Chikanso’s killers, they vowed not to rest until Dike was rearrested dead or alive.

“We will not go back on our resolve to ensure that justice is done in this matter. How could a man kill a girl in such a terrible manner for ritual purpose and the moment the culprit was apprehended and takien to the police,” he disappeared.

“We want the police to do the needful by ensuring that Dike is rearrested. If such terrible thing can happen in the police, then we are not safe in this country,” one of the protesters, who identified herself as Angela stated.

She, however, stated that though they were dispersed by the police, such an action would not stop them from airing their views on the need to fetch Dike and make him to face justice.

Angela called on the police to dismiss and try one Johnbosco, from whose hand Chikanmso’s killer escaped.

She expressed the need for other security agencies to join the police in fishing out the murderer, adding that the disappearance of the culprit in a place as big as the State CID was unacceptable.

It will be recalled that the suspect, Ifeanyi Dike, was caught after killing the eight-year-old girl and removed her vital organs, including her tongue and eyes ostensibly for ritual purpose.

Meanwhile as part of its efforts to track down and re-arrest the escaped suspected ritualist, the Rivers State Police command has promise a handsome reward to anyone who would volunteer any information that would led to the arrest of Dike.

Nnamdi Omoni, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in a statement in Port Harcourt, Wednesday promise that “anyone who will assist the police with information that will lead to the re-arresting of the suspected ritualist Ifeanyichukwu Dike will be handsomely rewarded.”

Also some lawyers and civil rights activists in Rivers State have called for the immediate suspension of the Commissioner of Rivers State Police Commissioner Ahmed Zaki following the escape of a suspected ritualist from police custody in Port Harcourt.

A civil rights activist, Opunab Inko-Tariah while reacting on the escape of Ifeanyichukwu Dike, a 200 level student of the University of Port Harcourt was arrested for allegedly dismembering his eight-year old niece for ritual purposes, accused the Commissioner of Police of complicity and negligence in the escape of the suspect.

He said the CP should ensure that the suspect is rearrested in the next 24 hours. “It is highly, almost highly impossible because there was no jail break, how could he have escaped. We are talking of the state CID building where you have lots of policemen.

“I just can’t comprehend it, I just can’t fathom it, I was a little bit staggered by the information. So if the commissioner of police is unable within 24 hours re-arrest that suspect, he should be placed on suspension to serve as a deterrent to our security personnel that when they are handling security issues, they should not treat such issues with levity.”

“They must ensure, because we are talking about killing, ritual killing of a minor.”

On his part Eugene Ode, a legal practitioner in the state called for a thorough search and re-arrest of the suspect.

“Personally, I am in shock to hear that a high profile criminal who has even confessed the crime before the police was left off the hook for whatever reason.

“In fact I am even surprised that Commissioner of Police in the state is yet to tender his resignation. To hear that the commissioner of police is still sitting intact over this and he has even confirmed that this is true. A man who was caught in the very act, who has made useful statement before the police, left off the hook, I think this is the height of it. Honestly this does not portend anything good for the fight against crime and criminality in the state.”