Runaway Suspected Ritual Killer, Dike: How I Escaped from Police Custody

By Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Runaway suspected ritual killer, Ifeanyichukwu ​ Dike, who was re-arrested last Thursday in Plateau State, has said the absence of electricity at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Port Harcourt on the day he was to be put in police custody aided his escape from the station.

He also said it was not true that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Johnbosco Okoroeze, who is now standing trial for aiding the escape of a murder suspect, assisted him in his escape

Dike was arrested by the police on August 19 for raping and killing his eight-year-old niece, Chikamso Victory Mezuwuba, at Eliozu community in Port Harcourt metropolis.

He however escaped from the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) while being led to the cell.

The suspect, who was re-arrested in Barkin Ladi Local Govbernment Area of Plateau State last Thursday, was yesterday paraded again by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki, at the command’s headquarters in Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, after he was brought back on Sunday.

Dike told journalists that he took advantage of the darkness in the premises of SCID when he was asked to go into the cell and escaped, adding that nobody knew when he had sneaked out.

He said: “At the SCID, after I entered my statement late in the evening of the day of my first parade, my IPO asked me to go inside the cell, that was when I had the opportunity to run away. My IPO did not help my escape. I know what I did was wrong, please forgive me and have mercy.”

Dike disclosed that he was rearrested in Plateau State when he got involved in another crime. 

His words: “When I got to Jos, due to my injuries, I wasn’t able to get proper place to go to and due to hunger where I went to search for food, I was caught. So they were interrogating, I gave my auntie’s number so when the policeman that was interrogating me called my auntie then she quickly told him that they have declared me wanted.

“At first I was hiding my identity, but as soon as they called my auntie, my auntie told them that I was declared wanted and she handed over the IPO’s number to the police and when she called the police she handed my IPO’s number to the police here, the police then called my IPO and now confirmed that I was the person. After I was confirmed, I was detained and returned back to Rivers State on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, has described the re-arrest of Dike as an act of God, stating that providence has brought the suspected back to face justice.

Briefing journalists earlier, Zaki said: “Barely two weeks ago, after I spoke to you concerning our determination and resolve in the re-arrest of Ifeanyi Dike, a 200-level student of University of Port Harcourt, who mindlessly and without the fear of God, raped and murdered eight-years-old Chikamso whose only sin was her absolute trust on her close relationship and uncle.

“Today with profound humility, I present to you the most wanted ritual killer, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Maxwel Dike. His re-arrest was made possible by God Almighty, through your numerous prayers and concerns, following his escape three weeks ago.

“Your positive actions in information dissemination, both in the print, electronic and social media so much circulated, even in faraway places of the world. The consciousness of every Nigerian was awake in the search for this mindlessly killer.

“I wish to assure you that justice will not only be done but seen to be done in the circumstance to bring the full weight of the law to bear on him or any other person implicated in the course of further Investigation.”

The commissioner of police therefore called on Rivers people to help in fighting, what he described as the horror of cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and other vices as they are impacting negatively on the state.

Meanwhile father of the victim, Ernest Mezuwuba, has called for justice, also attributing the re-arrest of the suspect to the handiwork of God.

Mezuwuba, who insisted that there are other persons behind the killing of his daughter, called on the Police to ensure that all those involved in the matter are brought to justice.”