The Rivers state police command has sparked outrage amongst Nigerians on social media over its comment on the recent killings of young women in hotels in Port Harcourt.
Since July, photos of different young women found dead in hotel rooms have been circulating on social media platforms.
The bodies of these ladies were said to have been found in similar conditions – strangled and tied with a white cloth around their necks.
In August, the police had confirmed three young girls were killed in a similar manner in hotels in different parts of the city.
A group of women, however, took to the street to stage a peaceful protest with respect to the killings and to draw the attention of the public to the “heinous activities of serial killers” in the city.
They also took the protest to the police headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Chucks Enwonwu, deputy commissioner of police in the state, who addressed the protesters, confirmed that they have been receiving several complaints about the serial killing of women in the state.
He, however, urged them to educate other women to desist from prostitution as it makes them easy targets to prey on.
“In as much as societal values degenerate, you need to go back to educate your fellow women and advise them against prostitution because they are the targets and victims of such crimes,” BBC quoted him to have said.
Enwonwu’s comment did not go down well with some Nigerians and they have taken to various platforms especially Twitter to vent their anger.
While a number of users slammed the police for jumping into conclusions — by describing the victims as prostitutes — others called for thorough investigations with a view to apprehending the killers.
“There’s a psychopath on the loose and @PoliceNG has the effrontery to blame “prostitution”. Y’all can prove the victims were prostitutes, but have no clue who the murdering bastard is,” a Twitter user said.
“Whether you are fighting for a just cause or not, this is indirectly justifying the serial killer even the said sex workers are human, they don’t deserve to die in such manner,” another user said.
Here is what some Nigerians had to say:
There's a psychopath on the loose and @PoliceNG has the effrontery to blame "prostitution". Y'all can prove the victims were prostitutes, but have no clue who the murdering bastard is?? #PHCSerialKiller #ProtectPHWomen #ProtectPhGirls
Advertisement— 🇳🇬Dr. Adanneya🇦🇺 (@the_ngozi) September 16, 2019
Whether you are fighting for a just cause or not, this is indirectly justifying the serial killer even the said sex workers are human, they don’t deserve to die in such manner.#ProtectPhGirls #ProtectPHWomen pic.twitter.com/KV0rgE2NIv
— 👑Dickiana🌹 (@ApokiDickson) September 16, 2019
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Even if the girls being killed are sex workers, does it mean sex workers deserve such a thing? Aren't they humans? Shouldn't their lives matter? Please @PoliceNG do something. #PHCserialkiller. #Savephgirls.
— Ifeatu (@Ife_atu) September 15, 2019
For those with info on the PH serial killer, please who is taking those pictures and putting them online?? Let’s start from there#ProtectPHWomen
— Anto Lecky (@AntoLecky) September 16, 2019
This tweet is to bring awareness to the serial killings of women recently and in the past in Portharcourt by an unidentified serial killer. Their occupation matter little, we demand the government of Rivers move swiftly to #ProtectPHWomen & #ProtectPhGirls. We're in Solidarity✊
— 🌍🔍 (@historyintwits) September 16, 2019
So hotels were built for only men ? Women can’t go to hotels too? How dare you ask what a girl is going to do in a hotel. Your level of entitlement is extremely disgusting. You people are running mad!!!!! #ProtectPHWomen #PHCSerialKiller
— Queen Of The Damned 🦇 (@DiaryOfMitya) September 16, 2019
We are at Ibinabo Hotel, the place where the recent victim's body was discovered and we are saying.
Hotels have a part to play in this too.
Hotels are responsible for the safety of their guests and should be held accountable.#PHCSerialKiller #ProtectPhGirls #ProtectPHWomen pic.twitter.com/0PdonAtM8L
— Port Harcourt Significant Girls (@girls_port) September 16, 2019
In Nigeria, we are basically surviving our own, I don't think we have a leader.
Now is not the time to question the occupation of the deceased women, it is the time to speak with one voice, our voice is all we have to offer.
Retweet!
Justice must prevail #ProtectPHWomen pic.twitter.com/zmDFWTkpAf— Molecule Boy ☹ (@HeisJayfred) September 16, 2019
Women in PH from now onwards;
“I Dey come; no be address!”
“I just wan see this man; no b pesin name!”Please kindly text your address, location and send a picture of whom you’re going to see to a Family member or friend for security reasons.#ProtectPHWomen
#ProtectPhGirls— Lu’lu (@Oluomachiii) September 16, 2019
Y’all think all the women in Abuja who were taken by the police during their raid were sex workers ? There was a corper in their midst, no ? …she was harassed too. You think you’re better than a sex worker ? You think you’re safe ? Urghh this is so sad #ProtectPHWomen
— ebele. (@ebelee_) September 16, 2019
Some Nigerians are very judgemental I tell you. Girls are being killed, strangled and you are saying what did they go there to do???
So hotels were built for only men to lodge or what?
Even when ladies go to hotels, sometimes the staff have an attitude. #ProtectPHWomen
Thread!— chichi_obum (@MrsObum) September 16, 2019
10 of our beautiful ladies have had their dreams cut short by this serial killers and no arrests had yet been made!!!#ProtectPhGirls
#PHCSerialKiller #ProtectPHWomen pic.twitter.com/lOPdSanoXo— Port-Harcourt Plug🔌💡 (@PH_Prinx) September 16, 2019
What are the names of these hotels?
What identification and contact details was used in booking the rooms?
Are there no CCTV cameras?
How does the serial killer leaves the hotel without being seen?
These are questions we should really be asking.
— Emeka Uduma (@IAmMrMeks) September 16, 2019
Killings everywhere, is the Last verse of the National Anthem forgotten? “Peace and Unity” Where is the Peace not to talk of Unity? Let’s Peace Reign in Nigeria.#ProtectPHWomen #ProtectPhGirls
— Y a k u z a – S u r f e r 🏄🏽♂️ (@TheOnlyAbiodun) September 16, 2019
To cross a road in Nigeria check for
Boko Haram
Flying bullets
Sars
Kidnappers
Ritualists
Rapist
Gov. Wife's convoy
Then finally check for cars before running across.#ProtectPHWomen#PHCSerialKiller #ProtectPhGirls— Rag nä rók (@JohnRaul_) September 16, 2019
I’m beginning to believe that there’s nothing that would happen to women in Nigeria that would make this godforsaken country value us. Sex worker or not, nobody deserves to die this way. Nobody. Fuck all y’all saying otherwise.#ProtectPHWomen
— oyinda (@Tobiafolabi_) September 16, 2019
Hypocrisy is when you patronize the so called "Call Girl(s)" in the Night in Port Harcourt and in the Morning, you come to Twitter to Criticize them. #PHCSerialKiller#ProtectPHWomen#SavePHGirls
— Artificial Beard 😎 (@Mr_Pucca) September 16, 2019
It's not enough to protest on social media about killings of PH girls. The State govt should be made to swing into action; all hotels should be mandated to install CCTV cameras in their premises. Investigation should start with immediate effect. #CatalystsDarts#ProtectPHWomen
— Comrade Catalyst Chigbogu (@Catalyst4eva) September 16, 2019
The government is doing nothing to protect the lives of its citizens in and outside the country. If you can’t feel safe in your own land. Where ? So Nigerians will keep losing their lives. Shame on this APC government #PHCSerialKiller #ProtectPHWomen
— 𝕌𝕊𝔸🇳🇬 (@meothmans) September 16, 2019
These nigga killing ph girls is obviously a psychopath . Even if you don’t like wah they do, is death the answer? Imagine if that’s how everyone behaved, no one would be alive. #ProtectPhGirls #ProtectPHWomen
— one boy like that (@joshsalks) September 16, 2019
Hotels! Motels! Guesthouses! Brothels!
If your business matters, do the needful to assist in the investigation. Managers and members of staff should be vigilant. This is no time for nonchalance.
I hope it doesn't grow beyond these locations.#ProtectPhGirls #ProtectPHWomen— Jenna (@JenniferOkolo_) September 16, 2019
If a serial killer starts targeting Engineers, would you carry placards saying “Engineering is not the way”, “Stay clear of oil rigs”, “Tear your B.Eng now”?
No, you wouldn’t. Why? Coz the victim’s profession isn’t the issue, THE PSYCOPATH KILLING IS!!!#ProtectPhGirls
— Four-eyed Edo boy™ (@Alex_Houseof308) September 16, 2019
I think we've gotten to the point in civilization where we shouldn't crucify people because of choices they make (as adults) if these choices don't affect us directly. So even if a lady chooses prostitution as a profession, she deserves to be killed? Very shity! #ProtectPhGirls
— The Top Dawg💪🏾🇳🇬 (@A_mekuz) September 16, 2019
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