Suspect linked to rape, murder of UNIBEN student arrested

A suspect linked to the rape and murder of Vera Omozuwa, a female student, who died after she was attacked while studying inside a church in Edo state, has been arrested.

Chidi Nwabuzor, a spokesperson of the state police, on Tuesday, said the suspect was arrested after the fingerprint on the fire extinguisher she was attacked with was examined.

The police public relations officer also said the individual was apprehended after the area commander of Ikpoba Hill mobilised his men to take action.

“The items used in assaulting and wounding her was recovered, a fire extinguisher cylinder,” he said.

“Immediately the operatives, who were with the specialist screened the fingerprints on the cylinder, moved the body of the victim while she was still alive and in coma.

“The area commander in charge of Ikpoba Hill Area Command took it upon himself, mobilized his operatives, and moved to town. Around the place of the incident, the suspect was arrested.”

Omozuwa, who is a microbiology student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was found in the pool of her own blood after taking to a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to read.

It was gathered that she was rushed to the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital, where she would eventually breathe her last in a development that has provoked outrage across social media.

Reacting to Omozuwa’s death, the RCCG said measures have been taken to ensure the culprit(s) “face the weight of the law” regardless of who is involved.

“As a church, we are deeply touched and condemn in absolute terms this evil visited on an innocent girl as we have equally condemned any act of violence and abuse against women,” the church said.

Godwin Obaseki, Edo governor, also said he had ordered the police to thoroughly investigate, arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable in her death.