A student of the University of Benin, Mr. Awoh Sunday Theodore has been
arrested by men of the Nigerian police over a case of ‘mistaken
identity’.
Theodore was arrested by the police in Edo over a Facebook post by one
Livinus Elem, following the death of Miss Vera Uwaila, the first-year
UNIBEN student who was raped and murdered in a church.
In the Facebook post, Elem had blamed Uwaila for her death, claiming
that she double-dated while alive. “Good for her why will she be dating
two room mates the same time”, he wrote.
It was gathered that the comment led to the arrest and subsequent
detainment of Theodore, who was taken for Elem for their alleged
resemblance.
He is currently being held behind bars at the state Criminal
Investigation Department (CID), Sapele road division, Benin city, the
Edo state capital.
In a letter exclusively obtained dated 18th June addressed to President
of UNIBEN Students’ Union Government, Theodore said he had been wrongly
accused.
“I want to remind you that you are part of my number 1 hope of survival
in this grievous allegations against me”, Theodore told the SUG
president, who he said had earlier paid him a visit in prison.
Mr. Theodore, however, called for solidarity from his faculty, Education
and the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS) for his freedom.
“I have been detained and my fundamental human right of habeas corpus
had been violated. I have suffered what I know nothing about and till
now still subjected to police cell”, he lamented.
Theodore, a member of St. Albert catholic church in UNIBEN, further
requested that the chaplain in charge, Rev. Fr. Obinyan comes to his
rescue and offer prayers on his behalf.
- A source and member of the church, who craved anonymity, however
Rev. Obinyan and other church leaders, including the SUG president were
already intervening in the matter.
“We all want justice for Uwa, but we want the real perpetrators to be
brought to book”, the source said, insisting, “the innocent should be
spared and not be made to pay a price for a crime he did not commit.”
The source wondered the resemblance between the duo, calling on the
police to give “concrete evidence” as to the connection of Theodore to
the certain Elem who made the Facebook post.
Efforts to obtain comment from the Edo state police public relations
officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor proved abortive. His phone line was still
busy as at the time of filing this report.
