Family members of late Mrs Chigbewejim Steward, have called on the police and other necessary security unit to help them get justice for the mother of two, who was alleged raped to death by some cult members in her community Abarikpo in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
NIGERIACRIME gathered that members of the deadly group kidnapped Chigbejim in the early hours of Sunday and later gang-raped the pastor’s wife to death.
Residents were said to have found her remains in the community at about 10 am, with multiple injuries and blood stains in her private parts.
The deceased’s husband, Lawyer Steward, lamented that the cultists killed his wife because one of their members alleged that she was always gossiping with his name.
The pastor dismissed suspicions that he was involved in any activity in the past that caused his wife her life.
He said, “I am not a cultist; I am an Assistant Pastor in charge of Evangelism in the Seventh Day Adventist Church Abarikpo. Everybody in my community knows I am not a cultist.
“She gave birth to three children, one is late. My daughter is seven, while the little one, a boy, is three years’ old.
“One boy, Sunday, a cultist, claimed he slaughtered my wife because she gossiped and spoke against him. That people told him my wife always spoke against him.
“That is the reason he murdered her. He is a cultist.”
READ ALSO: Coup Allegation: DSS Invites Fani-Kayode, Atiku Reacts
He further said that the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer visited the scene on Sunday evening, while also calling on law enforcement agencies to apprehend the killers.
“I am calling on the government to help me find those boys that kidnapped my wife, raped and murdered her.
“Let the government and the police help to arrest them and make them pay for what they did to my wife,” the cleric stated.
The incident was also confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of Igbu Akoh Clan Youth Congress, Ahoada East LGA, Ekeakita Chinem.
The spokesperson also lamented that the community had been experiencing a series of killings in recent times with no effort from security agencies.
“So, like we have been having a series of killings in Akoh. When they kill, nobody goes after the bad boys. No security person goes after the bad boys.
“Mrs Steward was kidnapped around 1am. Only for us to find out around 10am this morning that she was lifeless after being raped.
“She had bruises in her private parts, especially on her thighs. There was blood all over her body too.”
Chinem told newsmen that residents of the community are living in fear and said the people have lost faith in the system.
He also dismissed possibilities that the incident was cult-related.
Speaking further, the Youth spokesperson said that the community lost 11 innocent lives late last year when a group of cultists clashed over the missing AK-47 of one cult leader.
He said “and till today, there is no investigation, no action was taken by the police to fish out the perpetrators from where they are hiding. Nothing at all.”
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, proved abortive, as she did not respond to calls put across to her.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, had yet to reply to a text message sent to her mobile telephone as of the time of filing this report.