Sovereignty Murder: CDHR Sues For Perpetrators’ Punishment

By Oguns Sammy

Following the gluesome murder of late Miss Sovereignty iteregbe on the 15th of November,2020 by happy trigger vigilante members attached to Ufuoma Street along DSC Express, in Udu, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Udu unit of Delta State branch has called on the state government and relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to book by meting the appropriate punishment to the culprits to serve as deterrent to others.

In a press statement released, signed and made available to newsmen by the co-ordinator of Udu Unit of CDHR Delta State branch, Comrade (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen and his Secretary, Comrade Charles Oviri said the body condemned the murder of the innocet girl in strong terms and therefore called for justice in this regard.

The release reads in part:
“We, the CDHR condemned in strong terms the gluesome murder of Miss Sovereignty iteregbe and therefore called on the state government, the Nigeria Police force to swing into action to bring the pertrators to book and melt on them the appropriate punishment to serve as deterrent to others.”

CDHR as a body who led a delegation to console the family said justice has to be done so that the death of girl will not be in vain.

The group said information gathered so far, the vigilante who committed the murder has been arrested and the gun used for the crime recovered by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Mohammed Muaza of Ovwian Division while other accomplices are still on the run.

The group said the suspect has been transferred to Delta State Police Command in Asaba for proper investigation.

The group also appealed to the Chairman of Udu Local Government, Chief Hon Jite Brown to lead a delegation to the deceased family to make them have a sence of belonging as that can calm the aggrieved residents.

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CDHR also called on rhe Chairman of Udu Local government to wade into the matter so that the deceased is released to the family for burial.

Against this background, CDHR has urged the Udu council boss to patner with the state government led by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Nigeria Police Force and other Non Governmental agencies to train and retrain the vigilantee in Udu to avoid what led to the death of Miss Sovereignty iteregbe.

The CDHR co-ordinator said if the vigilante personnel handling of security matters in Udu were propely trained, they would not be trigger happy to commit this act, adding that the local vigilante/community policing is important part of Udu Local Government Area because they help to fight criminality: armed robbery, cultism, killings, kidnapping and other social vices in the area just as they said for lives and property to be safe and peace to reign in the various communities in Udu is a collective effort.

He said: “Of a truth, vigilante in Udu Local Government Area has helped to reduce criminality to the barest minimum but they can be more effective when they are trained and retrained on how to handle guns.”

Comrade (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan urged the Udu Local Government boss, Chief Jite Brown to patner with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Nigeria police and other NGOs to train vigilante on security matters, adding that this should be done quarterly if they must be entrusted with guns for the safety of those being protected.

The CDHR co-ordinator also urged the Nigeria Police Force to support and cooperate with the vigilante to enable them provide useful information to the police to enable them (police) fight crimes in the society.

It would be recalled that late Miss Sovereignty iteregbe went out with a friend and on her way back home at about 10.00 pm encountered the vigilante who questioned where she was coming from. This resulted into disaggrement between parties and she was shot dead.