A 24-year-old Nigerian undergraduate student identified as Damian has been arrested by the police in Rivers state over the alleged murder of his lover, Justina Otuene Nkang.
Damian allegedly dismembered the deceased and was caught while attempting to dispose of her remains.
Here’s a rundown of the situation which has sparked public outrage over the continued acts of violence against women.
What happened?
On Sunday, October 22, a student of University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT), Justina Otuene Nkang, was reported missing.
A missing person’s report shared on social media stated Justina was last seen at the hospital where she worked as an industrial trainee.
A friend of Justina also shared a tweet notifying the public about her disappearance.
Justina’s body found
On Wednesday, October 25, Rivers state police command arrested Damian Chinaemerem Okoligwe, a 400-level student of UNIPORT, in connection with the alleged murder of his girlfriend.
It turned out that Damian’s girlfriend was Justina Nkang, the young lady previously reported missing. Police discovered Justina’s mutilated remains at Damian’s apartment.
The suspect was reportedly nabbed by security personnel in his estate while attempting to dispose of the victim’s body. It was also reported that witnesses in the area raised an alarm and raided Damian’s apartment where they found the victim’s dismembered body parts.
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A video showed Damian in handcuffs as operatives retrieved the victim’s body and prepared to send it to the morgue.
Damian maintains innocence
On Thursday, October 26, a day after he was arrested, Damian was paraded at the police station and interrogated by pressmen. He claimed he had nothing to do with Justina’s death.
“I didn’t kill her; I found her dead in my apartment in the morning. I don’t know who dismembered her body.”
Damian claimed he returned to his house to find her lifeless body. He stated that he couldn’t explain the situation, which is why he chose not to call the police.
How are the police handling the case?
According to Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Emeka, preliminary investigations have started. CP Emeka also disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discrete investigation.
Outrage on social media
Justina’s murder has sparked heated reactions on social media with many people, including celebrities, calling for justice under the hashtag: #JusticeForJustina
This is a developing story.
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