Rivers Police apprehends Man for raping cleric’s pregnant wife to death

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a man known as Emeka for allegedly raping Mrs Chigbewejim Steward, the wife of a priest, to death in Rivers State.

The culprit was captured in Abarikpo Community by Ahoada Divisional Police Headquarters officers from the state command.

Emeka is suspected of masterminding the gang rape of Mrs. Steward, a mother of two children, on February 12, 2023, in the Abarikpo neighbourhood.

The husband of the late pregnant woman, Mr Lawyer Steward, who is an assistant Pastor of Seventh Day Adventist Church, Abarikpo confirmed the arrest of the suspect.

Steward disclosed that the suspect was arrested 15 months later after masterminding the rape and killing of his wife, adding that Emeka quarreled with his wife before the tragic incident.

He said: “Yes Mr. Emeka, he is the mastermind of the death of my wife. After having a quarrel with my wife that morning, he claimed that my wife called him a wicked man.

“He told my wife you called me wicked man? You will see wickedness today. Around 1 am on Sunday morning, 12th February 2023, those bad boys came to my house, broke the door, and took my wife away.

“They raped her, my wife was 5 months pregnant and they strangled her to death. Emeka, Police arrested him last week Thursday. Now he is in Police custody. I have gone there to give a statement. I want the Government to intervene so that justice will prevail.”
It would be recalled that Steward had last year told pressmen that his wife was abducted by suspected Iceland cult members from his house at Abarikpo community and taken to their den where she was gang raped to death.

He had disclosed that the corpse of his wife was discovered close to a fishing pond several hours after she was abducted with multiple bruises and bleeding from her vagina.

It was, however, gathered that Mrs Chigbewejim Steward was until her death said to be very vocal in condemning criminal and cult activities in Abarikpo community.

At press time, the spokesperson for the police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police could not confirm the report, but a senior police officer in the state privy to the development said two other suspects were arrested alongside Emeka.