Police arrest man for ‘raping pastor’s wife to death’ in Rivers

The police command in Rivers says it has arrested one Emeka for raping and killing Chigbewejim Steward, a pastor’s wife, in the Abarikpo community under Ahoada-east LGA of Rivers. 

In February 2023, Emeka and his gang reportedly broke into Steward’s house at midnight and kidnapped her.

The late Steward was said to have been taken to an unknown destination, where she was allegedly raped to death by the gang.

After the incident, Emeka reportedly fled from the community after getting information that the police were after him.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers, told TheCable on Friday that the main suspect has been arrested.

Iringe-Koko said the police are investigating the incident, adding that operatives are on the trail of two other suspects involved in the incident.

Lawyer Steward, the deceased’s husband, said his wife was five months pregnant when she was kidnapped, gang-raped, and killed in the process.

“Yes, Emeka, masterminded the death of my wife after he quarrelled with her that my wife called him a wicked man. He told my wife you will see wickedness today,” Steward said.

“And that night around 1 am  February 12, 2023, those bad boys came to my house and broke the door and took my wife away.

“My wife was five months pregnant. Emeka and his gang raped and strangled her to death. The police arrested him on Thursday. Now he is in police custody. I have gone to the station to give my statement.”

The deceased’s husband urged the government to intervene so that justice would prevail.

“Emeka and his gang are members of a cult group ‘In Iceland’. My wife was kidnapped, and they had taken her to their hideout, where the gang raped and killed her.

“My wife’s corpse was discovered with multiple bruises and bleeding from her vagina close to a fishing pond several hours after she was abducted.”