President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday described as “sad and heinous,” the killing of three University of Port Harcourt students murdered by their kidnappers and their bodies buried in a shallow grave in April.
Commiserating with the families of the victims, President Buhari also extended condolences to the university authorities and the Rivers State Government over the unfortunate incident.
In a statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari regrets the “tragic occurrence,” saying that the “evil perpetrators have cut short the prospectively bright journey of these youths.”
He prays that God will comfort all those who mourn these young students, and grant their souls eternal rest.
President Buhari, while noting that the Nigerian Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit has apprehended one of the suspected perpetrators, further directs the Police Authorities to intensify search for the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
According to the President, “This administration will continue to equip the law enforcement and security agencies to bring to an end the evil activities of kidnappers in the country.”
Global Upfront Newspapers (GUN) had on Wednesday reported on the arrest by the Rivers State Police command of one Friday Akpan for the kidnap and murder of the three undergraduates of University of Port Harcourt.
The suspect and his gang members had kidnapped, raped the lone girl among the three, killed and buried them in a shallow grave at Etoo, Eleme Local Government area of Rivers state.
On arrest of the suspect, he told the the Anti-kidnapping unit of the State Police command that the victims were kidnapped on April 7, 2020.
The prime suspect, Friday Akpan who spoke to newsmen at the bush where they abducted the victims (Joy Adoki, Nelson Nwafor and Fortune Obimba), said they acted on the order of one Bright who told them the victims betrayed him after money was paid in the account of one of the victims.
The arrested suspect explained that they killed and buried the 3 victims after raping the female among them, Joy Adoki .
Briefing newsmen, the Spokesperson of Rivers State Police command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni disclosed that the Anti-Kidnapping unit led by its commander, CSP Collins Edward Shadar swung into action after a case of kidnap of the three undergraduates was reported to the unit.
DSP Omoni stated that following discreet investigation by the unit led by CSP Shadar, the suspects were arrested and one of them led the Police to the place where the undergraduates were killed and buried.
DSP Omoni stated that one AK 47 riffle, one pistol, three magazines, 72 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Also the corpses of the three victims were exhumed by the Police while investigation is ongoing.
