Rivers Police arrest two murder suspects who killed Shell Petroleum staff

The Rivers State Police Command on Friday, said it has arrested two suspected murderers, Kingsley Nwankor and Joseph Francis, who killed a staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.

Briefing newsmen at command Headquarters, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Zaki Ahmed said late Cletus Onyekwele was murdered in cold blood in his office at Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt.

“It could be recalled that on the 13th day of April 2017 at about 2345hrs, the Elekahia Police Station reported a case of murder of Cletus Onyekwele ‘m’ who was found dead in the pool of his own blood at the Industrial Area of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt. The deceased until his death was a staff of Alfamead Nigeria Ltd (A Sub- contracting firm with SPDC)” said CP Ahmed.

“As soon as the case was reported, the Divisional Police Officer Elekahia Division led a Police Team to the Scene, where they condoned and preserved the scene of crime, evacuated the deceased and deposited him in the mortuary”

The case was transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department SCIID in the wee hours of 14th April 2017 for further Investigation. Investigation into the case commenced in earnest with the main focus on the use of Forensic Science. Consequently, DNA samples, pieces of physical evidence and eye witnesses’ accounts were deployed in tackling this case.

“In the course of our Investigation, we invited a total of fifty (50) suspects made up of contract and Security Staff of SPDC for questioning. They were unconditionally released on Bail after recording their statements and obtaining relevant Forensic Exhibits which were later processed and forwarded to the appropriate laboratories for analysis and report”

This effort paid off handsomely when after three Months of submitting the Forensic Exhibits, a match was found belonging to one of the profiles earlier sent, identified as that of Kingsley Nwankor ‘m’ 40yrs, a staff of MB $ C Investment Ltd, a sub-contracting firm with SPDC who was paraded today.

After being confronted with overwhelming evidence, particularly the presence of his DNA at the crime scene coupled with other damning pieces of evidence, he broke down in tears and confessed to have carried out the acts that led to the death of Cletus Onyekwere

His confession led to the arrest of the second suspect, Joseph Francis ‘m’ 37yrs also a staff of MB $ C Investment who is currently helping us in our Investigation

We are proud to inform you that the Command has not only made a ground breaking achievement through the use of sophisticated Forensic technology but has secured justice for the family of the deceased and equally guaranteed a safer environment for all workers and visitors within the SPDC Industrial Area and members of the public at large

The patience of the family of the deceased, Staff, Management of SPDC and the general public in the course of this Investigation is highly appreciated. The confidence reposed on the Command by the IGP Ibrahim .K. Idris NPM mni to crack this case remained the driving force behind this remarkable feat

This case highlights the importance of the use of Forensic tools in Criminal Investigations which were massively deployed by the State CIID Port Harcourt in solving this puzzle.
It is hoped that with this breakthrough and upon a successful prosecution, this case will find its place in the annals of the remarkable breakthrough by the Nigeria Police Force.

Once again, I want to sincerely thank the good people of the State for their support and cooperation and urge them to sustain the existing cordial relationship with us as the Command is poised to ensure that the State is safe and secured, especially in the Ember Months leading to Christmas.