26th October, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka has confirmed the arrest of one Demian Okoligwe, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student ofthe University of Port Harcourt for allegedly killing Justina Otuene, his girlfriend who is also 300 level Bio-Chemistry of the same university allegedly for ritual purposes.
The Police Commissioner confirmed the arrest of the student at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State on Thursday.
He confirmed that Okoligwe was arrested while trying to dispose of the remains of Justina Otunene.
Narrating the sordid circumstances that led to the arrest of the suspect, the Police Commissioner said operatives of Ozuoba Division had on Wednesday received a complaint from a good Samaritan at Road 20, back of NTA Ozuoba that a fellow tenant, Demain Okoligwe perceived a very bad odour.
He said the good Samaritan immediately rushed to the Police station, where the DPO led detectives to the scene of the very bad odour.
“On arrival, the door was forcefully opened, and a Ghana must-go bag containing a lifeless body was recovered and taken back to the station. The Police then went in search of the fleeing suspects and boyfriend of the deceased, one Demain Okoligwe, a 24 years old, a Petrochemical Engineering 400 level student of the University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT boyfriend of the victim and occupant of the house, now the prime suspect who was traced and arrested for an inquiry.
“The lifeless body and butchered body of Justina Otuene, 20 years old, a Bio-Chemistry 300-level student at Uniport, was recovered and deposited at the mortuary.
Preliminary investigation is in progress, the case has been transferred to SCID for discreet investigation.
“Meanwhile the Command has condoled with the family of the deceased victim while urging young ladies to be cautious and careful about a person they are involved with in any form of relationship.
Earlier reports had indicated that the incident happened at an Estate along Road 15, NTA Road, Port Harcourt. According to the reports, the late Justina Otuene who was doing her Industrial Training,(I.T) at a private Hospital in Rukpokwu, near Port Harcourt, had left for her boyfriend’s place some days ago.
But the boyfriend kidnapped her seized and switched off her phones to make it difficult for anybody to reach her.
She was later declared missing and her photos were published on various social media platforms about four days ago.
The suspect, Demian Okoligwe, who is alleged to be an internet fraudster had allegedly killed Justina and kept the butchered corpse in his apartment for three days after removing some of her vital organs days for money money-making ritual.
However, contrary to the police claim, the reports had indicated that Okoligwe was nabbed when a private security guard attached to the Estate observed him with the bulging bag later discovered to contain the remains of the late Justina with vital parts like the breasts, eyes, and private parts missing.
The private security guard alarm, which attracted the local vigilantes in the area with the arrest of Okoligwe and recovery of the corpse said to be still dripping with blood.
He was said to be heading to a nearby refuse dump.
Otuene Justina said to hail from the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.