21st December, 2021
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
A fast decomposing corpse of a woman, simply identified as Uchechi has been discovered in her apartment on Woke Street, off Cherubim Road, Mile 3, Diobu, in the Port Harcourt area of Rivers State.
Curiously, the lover of the deceased, who was said to be living with her, and the late woman’s two-year-old daughter were also missing.
Our correspondent learnt that the corpse of Uchechi, also known as Oyigbo, was discovered by her neighbours on Sunday.
The Caretaker of the house, Chinonye Anurum, said the sudden disappearance of Uchechi’s lover and her daughter is suspicions.
Anurum noted that the deceased and her lover were not married, but cohabiting.
He said, “She was sick for almost four days and the man did not tell anybody. Maybe he suspected that the lady would die, so he ran away with her daughter.
Accordingly to the Caretaker: “It was the following day we got information that after he left with the little girl, he went to Mile 3 and told one of her friends to go and check if she was still alive.
“So around 8pm, we saw her friend who said it was like Oyigbo was dead. That was how she hinted us. We went to the house and found out that she was already dead.
“As the caretaker, I had to go to the police to report. Up till now, we have not seen the man and the child. So, that is why people are suspecting that he may know what happened to the girl.”
Meanwhile, a human rights group, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, has called on the Rivers State Police Command to investigate the sudden disappearance of the victim’s daughter and the missing lover.
The group said, “As a human rights organisation, we are simply calling on the Commissioner of Police to carry out a thorough investigation into the sudden disappearance of the man and the two-year-old daughter, who were living with Uchechi, popularly known as Oyigbo.
“We are also asking for the transfer of the case file to the State Criminal Investigation Department,SCID, for proper investigation, including carrying out autopsy.
“We are also appealing to the co-tenants and well-meaning citizens to provide useful information to the police that will lead to the arrest of the male lover, while we express concern over the safety of the child.”
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and assured that investigation was ongoing.