The Rivers State Police Command announced on Monday that an investigation has begun to locate the suspects who killed Chigbewejim Steward, a mother of two, in the Abarikpo community of Ahoada East Local Government Area. According to Metro, members of the Iceland cult abducted Chigbewejim to an undisclosed spot within the community, where she was gang‑raped and killed. While searching for her, her family discovered her remains at the crime scene, prompting mourning and condemnation from community members.
Chigbewejim’s husband, a lawyer and assistant pastor at the Seventh‑Day Adventist Church in Abarikpo, told reporters that a known cultist named “Sunday” was responsible. He claimed Sunday accused his wife of gossiping about him and said, “I am the husband of Chigbejim, who was murdered yesterday by a group of boys. After raping her, they murdered her. I am not a cultist; I am an Assistant Pastor in charge of evangelism at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Abarikpo. She gave birth to three children, but one is deceased. My daughter is seven and my son is three. Sunday, a cultist, said he slaughtered my wife because people told him she often spoke against him. That is why he killed her.” The bereaved husband demanded that security agencies apprehend the perpetrators, urging the government and police to bring the kidnappers, rapists, and murderers to justice. He noted that the Ahoada Police Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, visited the scene on Sunday evening.
Ekeakita Chinem, Public Relations Officer of the Igbu Akoh Clan Youth Congress in Ahoada East, said the community lives in fear of attacks and killings by criminal elements, accusing political leaders and government agencies of abandonment. “We have experienced a series of killings in Akoh, and when they occur, no security personnel pursue the culprits. Mrs. Steward was kidnapped around 1 a.m.; we learned at 10 a.m. that she had died after being raped. She had bruises on her private parts and blood stains on her thighs and body. People are living in fear because no political leaders or government agencies act against them,” he said.
Prince Wiro, National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, condemned the abduction and killing and called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation to apprehend those responsible and ensure they face justice.
Grace Iringe‑Koko, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that a murder case was reported at Ahoada Police Station and that the Divisional Police Office is already investigating. She noted that the allegation of gang rape has not yet been verified, stating, “I don’t know of gang rape, but a murder case was reported. An investigation has commenced with a view to apprehending the culprits.”
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