Family of murdered engineer calls for justice

The family of a computer engineer, Dinebari Gospel Eriba, who was killed by his abductors, has called on the police to ensure the remaining members of the gang are apprehended and prosecuted.

The Police in Rivers State on Wednesday discovered the carcass of the 38 years old in a forest in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area.

Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping team of the Command discovered the decomposed body of Eriba, an indigene of Gokana Local Government Area who was abducted by gunmen on the 15th of May 2020 at Woji, Obio-Akor Local Government Area.

His brother was said to have paid a ransom for his release but his abductor later killed him on the process by tying him to a tree.

The Operatives in a follow up arrested two suspects, Osundu Uchendu and Amebulem Amos said to be among the five-man gang that kidnapped and killed Mr Ereba in the forest.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO; Mr Nnamdi Omoni, while addressing journalists, said efforts were on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang while investigation is ongoing.

One of the suspects, Osundu Uchendu, a 25-year-old, who confessed to the crime said he joined the gang as a result of hardship, adding that he received thirty thousand naira from the ransom paid.

A relative, Bari Nna said the only thing that would console the family is to see their brother’s killers prosecuted and jailed.

He added that their community, Bera, has been thrown into a state of mourning following the death of Ereba.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Philip Okparaji, has expressed shock over the killing of Ereba in a forest in Alesa, Eleme by the kidnap gang.

Okparaji while condemning the act warned hoodlums and criminals never to use Eleme land to perpetrate their heinous crime as the Council authority is out to smoke out all criminals from the area.

The Council Boss condoled with the family of the deceased and commended Rivers State Police Command for living up to its responsibilities.

He stressed his administration’s preparedness to continue to collaborate with Security agencies to give the people of Eleme new lease to life which has led to the recent establishment and equipping of Volunteer Vigilante group in the area to help give useful information to security agencies towards securing the LGA.

Okparaji while pointing out that the kidnappers are not from Eleme, called on residents of the area to always report suspicious movements in and around communities in the council area.