IGARA, a town in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo state, was thrown into mourning penultimate week after a middle-aged man, identified as Topa Williams allegedly grabbed a young girl identified as Ozavize Ogunmah who was hawking maize and murdered her in cold blood.

The reason for the dastardly act is yet to be ascertained but Crime Guard learnt that the suspected killer who is currently on the run was among those who were recently granted pardon from Oko prison by the Edo state Chief Judge.

Young Ozavize who was popular in her trade the community was said to have gone out as usual that fateful day to hawk her maize but did not return. Disturbed by the absence members of the community launched a search party for her.

The question on everybody’s lips was how a Junior Secondary school girl at Comprehensive High School, Igarra, Ozavize who always hawk maize to assist her parents in her training be missing. Youths in the community searched for her for three days only to discover her decomposing body buried in a shallow grave allegedly by the fleeing Topa Williams.

Investigation revealed that the suspect reportedly lured the deceased into his house under the guise that he wanted to buy maize. It was learnt that after he locked the deceased inside, he raped her and apparently killed her and vanished.

It was learnt that after the ugly incident, the suspect buried the victim at the back of his house in the late hours of the night. However, after three days of serious search in the community, some body hinted that he heard some one screaming the day the girl disappeared at No 19 Anglican Mission Road where the suspect Topa lives. Following that revelation, youths of the community led by the Chairman of the neighborhood watch in Akoko Edo, Laja Amune, stormed Topa’s one storey mud house.

When the youths got there, they discovered the plastic bowl used by the deceased to sell her corn but she was no where to be found. Topa was equally no where to be found. However, a lady who ran into the bush behind Tope’s house, to answer the call of nature, perceived a very offensive smell akin to that of a rotten animal.

She was said to have looked round but could not find anything. But she ran out and raised alarm which attracted the youths who had already believed that the deceased may have disappeared with a man. After conducting a serious search in the area, they discovered a shallow grave and behold, they saw the decomposing body of the deceased tucked in a Bagco bag while her face was covered with the cloth she used in hawking.

It was observed that the shallow grave is less than one foot. The decomposing body was exhumed and taken to the police by the Youths after which the police directed it should be deposited at the mortuary at Ibillo medical center.

The medical officer of Igarra General Hospital, Dr. Eruanga Bello who conducted the post mortem examination on the body said the girl suffered before she died, explaining that “It appears she was severely beaten and hit on the head by an object. She had a fracture on the base of the skull and she bled through the nose, ear and mouth which possibly led to her death.

However, there was no cut on any part of the body”. The Police in Igarra had since swung into action with the arrest of the elder brother of the suspected killer, Omeiza Williams, a commercial motorcyclist, Sunday Seriki and his girlfriend, identified as Joy Mayaki and one other person identified as Anode.

Commenting on the incident, grieving parents of the deceased, Mr. And Mrs. Sunday Ogumah lamented that it would be difficult for any of their children to fill the vacuum which Ozavize’s death had created and appealed to the police to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the suspect. The mother of the deceased Esther, who wept uncontrollably, narrated that “the girl was a blessing to the family.

She was very industrious and she normally assists me in my petty trade and that is where we get money to feed ourselves and pay for her school fees”. She added that her daughter who was said to have arrived from her school’s graduation ceremony at about 2pm on the fateful Friday, ate and informed her that she was off for her daily hawking of cooked maize for the family, “ But I never knew that she will not return”.

The matter was subsequently reported to the head of Anona family; Chief J. M. Akpeji who immediately called on the police to investigate the matter. The Divisional Police Officer in Igarra, Mr. Paul Morakinyo who declined comment on the suspected case of Homicide directed enquiries to the state police command. Reacting to the incident, Chief Akpeji said it was the first of its kind in Igara, describing the act as “Barbaric and inhuman and must be condemned”.

He urged government to spread its dragnet to fish out the culprit. Adding:“I wish to advise our youths to shun vices capable of ruining their lives and rendering them useless for life. Parents and guardians should always monitor their children and wards from peer groups that could lure them into crimes”.

Reacting also, a community leader, Chief Aigboje Emah observed that the Police in the area are weak and this had killed the zeal and enthusiasm of the people to give useful information adding that Police use such information to enrich their pockets thereby subverting justice. He said he had once seen the fleeing suspect with a gun which he promptly reported to the police but no action was taken.

Topa Williams is a notorious criminal who has committed heinous crimes in Igarra and other places. We view this killing as irritating and a further confirmation of the fact that human life in Nigeria is not worth more than that of a cockroach.

From all available information, the girl is neither a girl friend nor a lover of Topa Williams. She was carrying out her legitimate duty of providing income for the family and Topa must have beckoned on her to patronise her. We are appealing to the police to do something urgent because that criminal Topa must be punished”.

Police trails fleeing killer
The state Police Spokesman, ASP Peter Ogboi has confirmed the incident and hinted that the police is closing in on the suspect, whom he vowed must face the full wrath of the law. According to him, “The suspect has not been arrested but we are closing up on him. We have information right now that he may have ran to the north but we are reaching out to our colleagues in the north and we are also going to get his photograph and then publicly declare him wanted.

As for his family members that are still with us, we don’t arrest in proxy but the crime was committed in a full building which is supposed to be a family house so they need to explain certain things to the police at least why did they not report the incident to the police and to also tell us what they know about the incident, but we are also looking into their arrest”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/08/06/murder-in-igara/

May her youtful soul rest in perfect peace. Amen

na woa. Hope they catch the killer.

Nigeria!!!