Okon Bassey in Uyo
More than three weeks after the Head of Pathology Unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Ivy Umana, was killed, the prime suspect in connection in the murder has finally been arrested by the police in the state.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, who showed concern over the death, during a visit to the hospital two weeks ago, threatened to call on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, to take over the investigations into the killing the female doctor, 44.
But yesterday, the prime suspect Henry Silas, 28, was paraded at the state police headquarters in Uyo.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cordelia Nwawe, who briefed journalists, said Silas who hails from Ikot Akpan Anwa village in Ika Local Government Area of the state was re-arrested on May 13, 2016 in Aba, Abia State.
According to the PPRO, the prime suspect had escaped from the Shelter Afrique Police State where he was detained, but following a tip off and calls made on his telephone line, he was again arrested in Aba.
On interrogation, Silas reportedly confessed to the crime, saying the killing was as a result of disagreement he had with the deceased over payment of the sum of N100, 000 for the work he did in her house, tilling and P.O.P work.
Nwawe said the prime suspect admitted killing her using an object, car shaft found within the compound of the deceased, saying in the course of moving into her house, he used the object to hit her.
The command spokesman said when arrested, three ATM cards, two car keys and Plasma television belonging to the deceased were recovered in one room apartment at No.124 Aka road, Uyo.
When interviewed, Silas told journalists that on that fateful day, he was at the deceased’s house at Shelter Afrique. On getting to the house, he called the deceased on phone who came and the opened the gate for him.
He further stated that he and deceased went inside her parlour, where she started complaining of his work that she did not like the kind of work he was doing. That she does not think she will pay him, and on trying to plead with the deceased to pay him his money, the deceased slapped him and told him to get out of the house, and that when he refused, the deceased pushed him out and banged the door against him.
Silas stated that he got angry and picked a rod he found outside the compound and waited for the deceased to come out, and when she did and saw him holding a big rod, she became afraid ran back inside the house.
He confessed that he chased Umana with the iron, in the process, the deceased fell down on a cushion, where he hit her with the rod very hard on her head.
Following the overwhelming evidence, police have vowed to prosecute Silas.
