The Akwa Ibom State Government says is deeply saddened by the news of the demise of Miss Iniobong Umoren, who was abducted, raped, assaulted and eventually murdered by Uduak Frank Akpan.
Comrade Ini Ememobong, the state’s Commissioner for Information & Strategy in a statement on Monday said the news which was conveyed by the Police is heart-wrenching and most disturbing considering the age of the persons involved.
He said that the Governor while thanking the police for the arrest and interrogation of the suspect, has communicated to the Police hierarchy in the state, his desire for the full administration of justice to the culprit and all persons involved in this crime. This is the least that will be acceptable.
“We condemn in totality the gruesome acts that led to the loss of the life of an innocent young woman, whose sincere desire was to earn a decent living. Our state must remain a safe location for all peace-loving and law-abiding citizens at all times.
” We commiserate with the deceased family on this very painful loss and pray God to comfort them, ” the statement read.
Recall that the State Police Command said it has arrested a suspected fake recruiter, Uduak Akpan, for allegedly raping, killing and burying the job seeker.
Umoren was killed at the Airport Road area of Uyo, the state capital.
She had gone for a job interview on Thursday after Akpan allegedly lured her with a fake offer on social media.
However, a few minutes after she sent a message to her friend, Umoh Uduak, about her leaving for the venue of the interview, she was unreachable.
Uduak, who raised the alarm on her Twitter handle @UmohUduak1, alleged that she heard the victim screamed from a one-second voice note she sent, adding that efforts to reach her on the telephone proved abortive as her calls were not picked before the mobile phone became unreachable.
Following the #FindHinnyHumoren hashtag created on social media, Akpan’s identity and the location was uncovered and when he got to know that he was been looked for, our correspondent learnt that the suspect absconded from his home.
It was gathered that the victim was buried in a shallow grave after Akpan allegedly raped and murdered her.
The police through its Twitter handle had stated that two suspects had been arrested.
It stated, “Anti-Kidnapping Squad of Akwa Ibom State Command is already investigating this case. As a matter of fact, two suspects have been arrested. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said in a statement on Sunday that Akpan had been arrested.
He added that the suspect confessed to have raped and murdered the victim.
The statement read, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Uduak Frank Akpan, 20, for kidnapping, raping and murdering one Miss Iniobong Umoren.
“On April 30, 2021, the command received a report on the disappearance of the victim. Following available leads, men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command, led by CSP Inengiye Igosi, consolidated on the initial progress made by the DPO, Uruan, SP Samuel Ezeugo, and arrested the perpetrator, who confessed to have lured his victim to his house on the pretext of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her, which led to her death.
“To cover his track, he dragged and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s compound. The deceased has been exhumed and deposited at UUTH (University of Uyo Teaching Hospital) for autopsy. The suspect confessed to have told his local government chairman of his atrocity before escaping to Calabar and was never at any time handed over to the police by anyone.
“The suspect is a confessed serial rapist, who has owned up to raping other victims. He will be charged at the conclusion of investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Amienghene Andrew, has called on youths and jobseekers to be wary of the activities of scammers and other men of the underworld.”
