The suspected killer of an Eket-based businesswoman, Mrs Juliana Dimaka, has been apprehended by operatives of the Akwa Ibom Police Command.
Recall that on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m., the businesswoman, who owned Supermarket at Grace Bill Street in Eket, was reportedly strangled to death at her home.
Confirming the arrest of the suspect, a police source who spoke anonymously said that crack detectives from the Akwa Ibom Command investigating the murder traced the suspect to Port Harcourt, River State, where he fled to evade arrest.
The source added that the suspect was traced to his friend’s apartment, where he was hiding.
“We traced and tracked the culprit to Port Harcourt in Rivers State and arrested him and took him to Ikot Akpanbia in Uyo,” he said.
When contacted, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP MacDon Odiko, said, “I am not confirming anything to you until I’m able to get information on the matter.
“It will take me time and I have a lot on my table now, but if you have any information, send to me, so that I can start digging.”
Meanwhile, a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered that a 41-year old carpenter, Terwase Ude, be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, Makurdi, for allegedly beating one Teryila Aperegh to death.
Ude who lives at Central Deke village in Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, was charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun did not take his plea for want of jurisdiction.
Mbanongun adjourned the matter until Jan. 30, 2024 for further mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Godwin Ato told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarter, Tse-Agberagba in Konshisha LGA to the State CID, Makurdi on Nov 22via a letter.
Ato said the letter stated that on Nov. 16, information was received by the police that Ude, who was the youth leader of the Central Deke village, had conspired with some of youths to kill a man.
Ato said the defendant was said to have conspired with Saater Mzahan, Udo Agber, Aondowase Tsekan and others at large to accuse the deceased of stealing yams and subsequently beat him to death using sticks, cable wires and other dangerous weapons.
The prosecutor said the defendant was arrested during police investigation, while others were still at large.
He said the offences contravened sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code, Laws of Benue, 2004.