A’Ibom police arrest job seeker’s killer

Etim Effiong

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has arrested one Uduak Friday Akpan, 20 years old for kidnapping, raping, and murdering of one Miss Iniobong Ephraim Umoren, who disappeared few days ago.

It was gathered that Umoren posted on her Facebook timeline how creative she was and that she needed a job to display her talent.

Based on her interest, another Facebook user was said to have invited her for a job interview to an undisclosed location on Airport Road, Uyo.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, SP Odiko MacDon, on Sunday, noted that on 30/04/2021, the command received a report on the disappearance of the victim.

According to the command, it received a report on the disappearance of the victim, and following available leads, the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, led by CSP Inengiye Igosi, consolidated on the initial great progress made by the DPO Uruan, SP Samuel Ezeugo.

The police confirmation came days after Nigerians on social media had provided evidence, locations, contacts and almost everything needed to Umoren’s killer.

“Following available leads, men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, led by CSP Inengiye IGOSI, consolidated on the initial great progress made by the DPO Uruan, SP Samuel Ezeugo and arrested the perpetrator who confessed to have lured his victim to his house in the guise of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her which led to her death.

“To cover his tracks, he dragged and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s compound. The deceased has been exhumed and deposited at UUTH 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.

“Suspect is a confessed serial rapist who has owned up to the raping of other victims. He will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Amienghene Andrew has called on youths and job seekers to be wary of the activities of scammers and other men of the underworld.

“While appreciating the efforts of the social media family and other fighters of injustice, he has condoled with the family and friends of the deceased,” McDon said in the statement.

Recall that on April 30, one Uduak Umoh, a friend to the deceased in her Twitter handle @Umohuduak1 raised the alarm over the disappearance of her friend, Iniobong Umoren, who went for an online job interview.

According to her on the social media, Iniobong was invited for an interview by a man known as Uduak Frank Akpan on April 29, 2021 to an undisclosed location along Akwa Ibom International Airport Road in Uyo, the state capital on Thursday, April 29.

Uduak said about two hours later, she reportedly received a frantic phone call from Hindy. She said she heard screaming before the call was abruptly ended and that her phone line was switched off.

Meanwhile, one Oshomah in his Twitter handle has bidden the young lady farewell, wishing her soul to rest in peace because she deserved better.

He also thanked Nigerians who came out to search for Iniobong Umoren after she was declared missing and other people for displaying courage in searching for her, praying God Almighty to bless them.

He wrote: “Rest in Peace. Farewell sister. You deserve better. Just went through the thread on @UmohUduak1 ‘s TL and saw Nigerians went all out to find her. I salute the courage and diligence. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. GOD RESTS HER SOUL.”

Former Senate President and ex-governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki@bukolasaraki, said: I’ve been following the #FindHinyHumoren hashtag closely over the past couple of days and I am extremely devastated that young Miss Iniobong Umoren, who simply set out to find a job, was raped and murdered.

“At this particularly difficult time, my prayers are with her family and all her friends who kept this topic on the front burner over the last couple of days. I hope the perpetrators of this despicable act are swiftly tried and sentenced.”