From Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police command has recorded success with the arrest of a prime suspect in the serial killings in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspect, Gracious David West, was recently sighted in a CCTV camera in the reception of a hotel in Port Harcourt after killing a female victim.
In the video clip which went viral on social media, the 39-year-old suspect dressed in a zebra crossing black and white collared T-shirt on blue Jeans, was tracked when he walked up the staircase to a room to meet someone and after he left the hotel outsmarting the receptionist on duty with a mobile phone in his hand. A dead naked girl was seen at the end of the video clip, her legs tied with a piece of white cloth.
Parading the serial killer, a native of Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state, at the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, the State Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, disclosed that the suspect was arrested on Thursday by Stop and Search police team along East/West road.
READ ALSO: Nigerians are disappointed in your govt, Anglican cleric tells Osinbajo
Dandaura stated that the serial killer was arrested en route Akwa Ibom, having noted that Rivers State was no longer conducive for him as the police had beefed up security in the state.
The Commissioner of Police told newsmen that on his arrest, the suspect confessed that he had killed girls in Lagos, Owerri and Port Harcourt.
He expressed delight that one of the prime suspects in the killing that had caused panic in the state had been arrested.
The state Police boss, who noted the arrest of other three suspects, believed that the prime suspect (West) did not commit the crime alone. He assured that the Command would fish out all suspects involved in the evil act.
READ ALSO: Tribunal dismisses certificate forgery case against Gov. AbdulRazaq
“I am delighted to have you here today barely three days after I had addressed you on the rising cases of mindless killings in Hotels in the state and the measures put in place by the Command to arrest the seemingly disturbing trend which had attracted both international and local condemnation.
“Today, it is my pleasure to announce to you that resulting from the measures put in place, the Command has apprehended Gracious David West 39-year-old from Buguma in Asari Toru LGA of Rivers State.
“The suspect was arrested in a commercial bus en route Akwa Ibom State, confessed to have carried out five killings in Port Harcourt, one in Owerri and another in Lagos State. He was on his way to Akwa Ibom, having seen that Rivers State was no longer conducive for him. Whereupon he was arrested by the Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Bori who were on a routine stop and search along Ogoni axis of the East/West Road.
“The suspect is definitely not alone in these killings, though he had made useful confessions but the Command will go beyond his confessions to ensure that a conclusive end is achieved that will serve the interest of justice. So far, three suspects are in our custody and are being investigated in connection with these killings.”
