…As Port Harcourt Serial Killing Claims 10
…Rivers State Security Council Reacts
The Rivers State Police Command has advised young women to shun prostitution as a suspected serial killer has murdered the 10th victim.
Reports indicate that there have been killings of young women in the last one month in low-priced hotels in Port Harcourt.
The victims are usually found strangled and gagged with a white handkerchief.
So far, five cases have been reported to the police but social media reports suggest that about 10 young girls may have actually been killed.
It could also not be confirmed if the killings are being perpetrated by one person or a syndicate or by random persons.
There are also speculations that the victims are mostly sex workers.
Addressing protesters recently, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Chuks Enwonwu, asked women to shun prostitution and other vices.
He said, “In as much as societal values are disintegrating, we must go back to try to educate them (women) and discourage them from going into prostitution because that is how they fall victim to these crimes.”
Speaking with a section of the press on Monday, the Executive Director, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Dr. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, said it was wrong of the police to castigate the victims instead of focusing on the killers.
Effah-Chukwuma said serial murder should not be treated with kid’s gloves even as she said those killed may be as high as 13.
She said, “It is a sad one for me. Assuming without conceding that they are prostitutes, does it mean their lives don’t matter. Yes, prostitution is wrong but if there are no buyers, there will not be sellers. Are the killings now justified? This doesn’t make sense
“We cannot say for sure that all those ladies are commercial sex workers. What we are playing with is serial killing and Nigerians are not used to this. The thing about serial killers is that if they are not caught on time they get bolder. The one that happened yesterday happened in the afternoon, not at night.
“After prostitutes, he will move on to the next victim. It is now about 13 victims in the last three months.”
The activist called on the authorities to clampdown on hotels that don’t have CCTV.
She said the absence of CCTV in some hotels was helping the killers to escape.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Security Council is working round the clock to ensure that the recent disturbing killing of young women is stopped and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law.
Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo stated that over the last few weeks, the State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has put in place measures to secure the lives of young women who have been targeted by serial killers.
He stated that the security agencies have been mandated to work with hotels and their management to implement security measures that will end the ugly trend.
Dr Tammy Danagogo said that the Rivers State Government remains committed to the security of lives and property.
He said in no distant time, the Rivers State Security Council will end the ugly trend. He added that the Government through relevant agencies is embarking on mass sensitization of the people on security measures.
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government assured Rivers people that the Wike Administration will continue to work for the promotion of security.
