By Frank Ulom
The 14 irate youths suspected of killing a mother of four female children, Mrs Martina Okey Itagbor on the 18th of June 2023 in Old Netim, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, have been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force.
The manhunt was launched by the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah on Saturday, 1st of July 2023.
In a statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, in Calabar, CP Grimah directed that the perpetrators be tracked down, arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
The Commissioner who described the incident as unfortunate, stressed that no individual or group has the right to take another’s life under any guise whatsoever.
According to CP Grimah, jungle justice is a heinous crime that the police seriously frown at and would do everything necessary to ensure such does not repeat itself because no one has the right to take life.
His words: “The issue of jungle justice is one crime that the Police do not take lightly and as such, we have already commenced a manhunt for those responsible for the dastardly act.
“Those responsible, no matter how highly placed, will be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.
“We are going to treat them like the criminals that they are, and no stone would be left unturned on this matter, they can only run but won’t hide, enough is enough, jungle justice is not the solution.
“All those involved in the murder of Mrs Itagbor would be brought to book, and the law will take its full cause, we won’t relent until they are in our custody”.
CONVERSEER earlier reported that Mrs Itagbor was accused of witchcraft and burnt to death by irate youths, who later swept her ashes into the gutter and washed it away.
So far, 14 persons have been fingered for the killing of Itagbor, they are Christopher Sunday Mbey (Leader), Festus Etim Umoh (Deputy Leader), Emem Etim Umoh, Enearokot Omonga Peter, Stephen aka Pompori, Obaji and Destiny Ime Brown.
Others are Joseph Omonga Orok, Eyu Adogo, Louis Bassey Peter, Orok Okon Orok, Mesembe Anembe, Malachi Sylvanus and Thelfa Okon Nyong.