The police in Edo have arrested a suspect over the rape and murder of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa.
The victim, who was a part one student of the University of Benin, was allegedly raped and murdered by unknown persons at the Ikpoba Hill branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Benin, where she had gone to read.
The gruesome incident has generated widespread reactions across social media with top celebrities spearheading calls for justice in the case with #JusticeForUwa.
Also, while raising a motion on the incident, the Senate had called on State Houses of Assembly to amend penal and criminal code of their respective states to make the penalties for rape and sexual assault stiffer.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, while confirming the suspect’s arrest, said he was apprehended following a screening of the fingerprints on the fire extinguisher allegedly used to smash the victim’s head.
The police spokesman disclosed that he suspect was picked up, “around the place of the incident.”
The PPRO added that the suspect was arrested after the Area Commander of Ikpoba Hill mobilised his men to take action on the incident.
“The item used in the assault, which was a fire extinguisher, was recovered, immediately the operatives who were with some specialists, screened the finger prints, which led to the arrest of our suspect,” Nwabuzor said.
On Monday, the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, had dispatched forensic experts from the Force Headquarters to Edo State to assist the police in the state in the investigation to reveal the identity of those behind the crime.