There were mixed reactions yesterday over the recent Police’s parade of the two suspects, Okwuoma Echezona Nwabufo and Odera Ezekiel Ilechukwu who allegedly killed Cynthia, the only daughter of Maj-General, Frank Osokogu (Rtd).
Nigerians, particularly online newspapers readers have condemned the security operatives for hiding the faces of the suspected criminals from the public.
They urged the government to provide for proper national identity card system and make a law that would make installation of CCTV in major spots, buildings and hotels necessary.
One of the readers stated, “I commend the police for a job well done. The security officials have proved that some murder cases could be resolved without fingerprints, tip-offs and DNA examinations”.
Others chided the police “for hiding the faces of the criminals.”
“It still beats my imagination why the faces of these good-for-nothing students are being hidden from the public,” said Olowolayemo.
Odudu Henry still does not trust the police. He said: “I so distrust the police that I find it difficult to believe them when they parade suspects. Remember Apo Six, Rewane, and now the case of Oshiomhole’s Personal Secretary? Sometimes, the Police, in a bid to impress, may do funny things. I wish I could trust them on this one.”
Others commended the hotel’s management for installing CCTV system, advocating for a law to make this a standard feature of all public places.
“Yes the CCTV cameras were of good assistance and this should be the standard for those who are running hotels for commercial purposes. Also, there should be tighter control or regulation of hotels, since they have become easy outlets for carrying out various crimes. They should have proper record keeping and details of all their customers,” says a comment identified by the tag “Ogbeni”.
For Ndueheidem, this may as well be another chapter of the recurrent “unknown soldier” saga. He said: “An identity card is a must in Nigeria and everyone should be registered by the police.”
The question on Dr. P2’s mind is “how the students got such powerful drugs freely without prescription…poor pharmaceutical controls and free market quackery…every Tom, Dick, and Harry can operate as doctors and pharmacists on every corner.”
The more emotional commentators would rather blame Cynthia’s gullibility. “The greatest cause of death nowadays is not AIDS or road accidents but stupidity. Cynthia’s case is just one good example,” said Francis.
“What convinced Cynthia to give heed to a man she never knew?” asked Sokolami, who also blamed Nigerian youths’ social media attitude.
However, the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has said the killers of Cynthia Udoka Osokogu must be prosecuted.
In a statement in Lagos, Senator Ojudu said he would use his legislative powers and contacts to ensure that the alleged murder is not swept under the carpet.
Ojudu said ensuring that the perpetrators are duly prosecuted should be the duty of every responsible Nigerian leader, parents and security agents.
He said he would take it up with the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that those who allegedly murdered Cynthia do not buy their way out of the case.
Ojudu said as a father of young girls, he does not see another way out of this other than to ensure the murderers are duly punished for their crimes so as to serve as a deterrent to their kinds.
The lawmaker, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Defence and Army, urged the parents of Cynthia, all parents, every opinion and religious leader, politicians, the media and all Nigerians to make sure that the alleged murderers of Cynthia do not go unpunished.
Ojudu called on the National Assembly and the Inspector-General of Police to show keen interest in the case.
Ojudu urged both the print and electronic media to make the alleged murder of Cynthia a regular feature in their reports so as to draw national attention to the heinous crime.
He praised the police for the quick apprehension of the alleged culprits, saying he hoped that the case would be prosecuted with the same diligence and sense of duty.
Advising people to be wary of who they socialise with on the social media, Ojudu said they should also be mindful of the kind of personal information they put on such sites.
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