Nigeria Police have recorded a major breakthrough by using forensic science to arrest the suspected killer of a 40-yeaar-old staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Port Harcourt.
Mr. Cletus Onyekwele was recently brutally killed in his office, Port Harcourt.
Mr. Zaki Ahmed, Commissioner of Police in Rivers state, who stated this weekend in Port Harcourt, said the Police relied on DNA samples and pieces of evidence to arrest one of the alleged killers, Mr. Kingsley Nwankwor who worked in the same Shell premises with the deceased.
Ahmed said the alleged murderer had led the police to arrest his alleged accomplice, adding that the two were assisting the Police with further investigation on the issue.
The police boss explained that the police took samples of evidence found at the scene of the murder, noting that about 50 suspects were invited for questioning.
He said the samples taken were later sent for analysis, confirming that some of them matched the DNA of the prime suspect, who later confessed to the crime during interrogation.
“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,” Ahmed stated.
According to him, “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’ 40 years, a staff of a sub-contracting firm with SPDC.
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’ 37 years , who is currently helping us in our Investigation.”
Source: Vanguard
