In a chilling and horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves through the University of Port Harcourt community, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student, Demain Okoligwe, stands accused of murder.
The student killed his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry undergraduate, and harvested her organs for alleged ritual purposes.
The gruesome crime occurred at Okoligwe’s residence along NTA Road in Ozuoba, near Port Harcourt.
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The Rivers State Police Command, led by Commissioner Emeka Nwonyi, made the shocking revelation during a press conference held on Thursday. Emotions ran high as Nwonyi disclosed the disturbing details surrounding this heinous crime that left the entire community in mourning.
According to the Commissioner, the suspect, after committing the gruesome murder, concealed Justina’s decomposing corpse in his apartment for several days. It wasn’t until a concerned neighbour detected a foul and pungent odour emanating from Okoligwe’s residence that the alarm was raised.
Nwonyi recounted the events, saying, “On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at about 1530hrs, operatives of Ozuoba Division received a complaint from a Good Samaritan and neighbour of Road 20, back of NTA Ozuoba.
He went to the suspect’s house, Demain Okoligwe, a fellow tenant, and was immediately hit by a very bad odour. Concerned for the safety of his neighbour, he rushed to the police station, where the Divisional Police Officer led detectives to the scene.”
The police officers, upon arriving at the scene, were met with a gruesome sight. They forcefully opened the door to Okoligwe’s apartment and discovered a horrifying scene: a lifeless body hidden inside a “Ghana must-go” bag. Justina Otuene’s life had been brutally extinguished, and her body had been mutilated.
Nwonyi continued, “The lifeless body and butchered body of Justina Otuene, a 20-year-old biochemistry student at UNIPORT, were recovered and deposited at the mortuary. Preliminary investigation is in progress, but the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for discreet investigation.”
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The Rivers State Police Command expressed condolences to the victim’s grieving family. Commissioner Nwonyi also issued a heartfelt plea to young women, urging them to exercise extreme caution in their relationships and be vigilant about the people they associate with. The authorities called on parents to engage in candid conversations with their children about the importance of making wise and safe choices in their friendships.
