*Father of murdered undergraduate laments
From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Mr Bright Obemba, father of late Fortune Obemba, one of the three undergraduates that was killed and buried in a shallow grave in a bush in Rivers State, has lamented over the killing of his only son.
The deceased father who spoke with The AUTHORITY during the parade of the arrested 5-man killer squad at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters in Port Harcourt, said his son was never involved in any criminal activity.
He narrated that his son was lured to death when he paid his friend a visit, who unfortunately, was the targeted victim.
Mr Obemba regretted that his only son would be gruesomely killed without committing an offence, commended the federal and state government as well as the police authorities for the prompt arrest of the perpetrators.
According to him, “my son was a good boy. I have never seen him involved in criminal activities. On the said day, he followed a friend (Nelson) and today I cannot see my only son again.
“I am begging the government and the police to ensure there is justice in this case.
“I have lost too many things and now my son. No amount of money can bring back my son, he is my only son. My son until his gruesome murder was a student of the Rivers State University, studying Civil Engineering.
“It was on April 7, 2020, when my son didn’t return home which was unsual, I started calling his mobile phone but no response. I called his friends who told me that my son went to the barbing salon with Nelson, and Nelson’s girl friend.
“So, I want Nigerians to pray for me and family. The perpetrators must pay for the crime they committed. My son would have clocked 20years in September this year”.
Meanwhile, the suspects have confessed to the crime.
Bright Iheachi, the gang leader who admitted killing the students, said one of the victims (Nelson) made away with profit they jointly made from undisclosed online business.
Another suspect, Friday Akpan, said “It was Bright that ordered us to shoot the students. He said if we do not shoot them, the victims will expose us. He told us that he had business with Nelson and when the money entered, Nelson refused to give him his share and traveled to Ghana.
“When Bright learnt that Nelson was back from Ghana, he hired us to kill him. Bright brought Nelson and his friends to the bush and ordered us to kill them.
“We pleaded to Bright to spare the lives of Nelson’s friends but he insisted that we should kill them so they don’t expose us. We also raped the female victim before killing her”.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, narrated that the victims, Nelson Nwafor, Fortune Obemba and Joy Adoki were kidnapped at Choba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, on April 7, 2020.
He said “The case was reported at the Anti-kidnapping Unit and they immediately swung into action, following which on April 30, 2020, the leader of the deadly gang by name Bright Iheachi (aka Nelly 20years) was arrested.
“On interrogation, he made useful confessions that led to the arrest of two other members of the gang namel, Friday Akpan and Emmanuel Kamiwelisha.
“In the course of investigation, all three suspects confessed to have killed the undergraduates among other operations carried out by them around Woji, Peter Odili road and Eleme communities.
“In our avowed determination to crack and solve the crime, one of the suspects in the wee hours of May 1, 2020 took operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit led by the commander, to a forest at Eteo in Eleme LGA where he identified the decomposing bodies of the undergraduates and narrated how five of them sexually assaulted the female and killed them all.
“Further confessions of the suspects led to the arrest of the 4th and 5th suspects, namely Isaac ThankGod, a native of Eken in Khan’s LGA and Christian Chimezie Mbakwe 39, a native of Obowo in Obowo LGA of Imo State.
“The 5th suspect was arrested in Imo State where the Toyota Avalon car with Reg. No. LSR 197 FY belonging to the deceased Nelson Nwafor was recovered from him.”
