Declare state of emergency on ritual killings, Reps tell FG

.Court sentences 2 to death in Onitsha over sex worker murder

By Phil Okose Onitsha

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency on ritual killings in the country.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution at a plenary session on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Toby Okechukwu, deputy minority leader of the house.

This is coming as a report of recent increase of the activities of ritualist in the nation.

It could be recalled that recently, over 40 suspected internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) attempted to breach the estate’s security on Friday night.

The suspected internet fraudsters, dressed in white, attempted to gain entrance into the estate around 11:45p.m., but were stopped by a team of security personnel at the gate.

They could not say what particular house was expecting them, so the estate security turned them back.

However, they returned strong in a convoy of 15 cars, carrying over 40 people in white around 2:30a.m.

A security personnel narrated that they became aggressive, as they attempted to forcibly penetrate the estate.

The suspected fraudsters, most of who were carrying leather bags suspected to be holding dangerous weapons, insisted that they were going to attend a birthday party at a house on Gold Street.

Curiously, the particular residence is in the vicinity of the Embassy of the Democratic Arab Republic within the estate.

The security men were adamant in their resistance, saying the said house was a private residence and not a commercial apartment building.

But the suspected fraudsters insisted that the gate must be opened even as they started a struggle with the civilian security men.

An agitated Chief Security Officer of the Estate Mr. Denis Omala, had to call in all his men numbering over 50 to prevent the strange men from breaching the peace of the estate.

The senior member of the estate’s leadership had to rush to the gate late in the night to ensure that the young men were turned back as their intentions were not known.

He urged the residents to be more vigilant because of the recurrent attempt to breach the security of the estate.

In another development, An Onitsha High court, Anambra State, Presided over by Hon. Justice D.A Onyefulu, Wednesday sentenced two youths, Valentine Umezinwa and Emeka Okolonji to death after finding them guilty over the murder of a sex worker, Blessing Eze.

The Presiding Judge has earlier last week adjourned the sentence to February 9^th. 2022 in accordance with the new Anambra State Law

While delivering Judgement the judge said he listened to the cross examination by the State Counsel, N. S. Emeka and the response from the prison officials who testified of the good conduct of the accused during their period in correctional facilities

Also the mother of Emeka Okolonji who wept bitterly in court said that her son who had been nursing the ambition to study abroad had never been found with bad gang.

In his ruling Justice Onyefulu said that the Counsel to the convicts have the option of appeal as well as through the  committee of prerogative of mercy stressing that the Governor has the final say on the matter.

“The Counsels have not shown enough reason why justice should be tampered with mercy”, the judge ssid

Counsel to the state, N. S. Emeka while speaking to this paper on the judgment said that justice has been done to the deceased, to the state and to the convicts, stressing that the convicts have the right to appeal over the judgment.

The defence Counsel, C. C. Okeke said they received the judgment with open heart stressing that they will approach the committee for the prerogative of mercy, and will also appeal on the judgment

It will be recalled that the convicts were accused of murdering one Blessing Eze, a sex worker who they lured, murdered and dumped the corpse around DMGS axis in Onitsha.

The Judge had earlier rejected the plea by their Counsels on the ground of youthful exuberance, arguing that if that should be allowed to stand youth would be acting anyhow and wasting people’s lives.