A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Akwa Ibom state, has been arrested for allegedly hacking an unidentified young man said to be her boyfriend to death with a machete.
The spokesman to the Akwa Ibom police, Odiko Ogbeche-Macdon, confirmed the incident to TheCable Lifestyle on Monday and said the lady, identified as Odume Princess, was taken into custody after the incident occurred on Sunday.
Although Odiko didn’t give further details on the case, he said: “She’s in our custody and investigation is ongoing.”
However, a witness who claimed to have arrived at the scene before the suspect was arrested took to Facebook to reveal that Odume was caught drenched in what was believed to be the victim’s blood and attempted to exit the crime scene.
“She is accused of killing a young guy early this (Sunday) morning at Abak Road. I saw a large crowd gathered at Abak road by Afahaoffot so I ran there and behold I saw this young lady been beaten and stripped totally naked,” he wrote.
“I immediately tried to gather information there and everyone there said that she was found this morning around 9.30 am trying to jump the fence of a young guy she went for hook-up with. Bloodstains were all over her.
“So she was caught and beaten to stupor and also stripped naked. According to the people at the scene, she matchet a young guy to death this morning whom she went out with. She killed the young guy instantly.
“After several cuts on his stomach and face, on trying to jump out from the fence she was caught. I feel pity for her ’cause the devil actually used her this morning to perform such wonders.”
Reacting to the report, the Akwa Ibom NYSC coordinator, Julius Amusan, described the case as “an unfortunate development.” He warned members to steer off crime, adding that being with the NYSC doesn’t make them immune to prosecution.
“The report was brought to us yesterday evening and we contacted the police. It was the police that told us the lady was almost lynched after she hacked her boyfriend to death. We were not there,” Amusan told TheCable Lifestyle.
“We were not told how it happened or what led to it. Circumstances surrounding the case are still sketchy. We’re relying on the police for information because they’re the ones who went to the scene of the incident to pick her up.
“It’s a sad and unfortunate development. Apart from being an officer, I’ve been a parent. I know what takes to train a child up to that level only for this to happen barely a month to the end of their service year. We’re not happy.
“We’ve given this sermon time and again. As a female corps member, you should keep your honour. You don’t need to be going after men all about. We’ve always told them to steer clear of any form of criminality.
“Being a corps member doesn’t confer immunity on you if you commit a crime. You can’t say, because you’re with the NYSC, you cannot be prosecuted. You have one year to spend. You owe your parents. Do your service and go.
“Don’t sell yourself cheap. I must sincerely say that what has happened is a huge embarrassment. It’s very sad.”
