Police give update on murder of 19-year-old Benue girl in Lagos, reveal next step

The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), has said that police had nothing to hide in its investigations into the murder of Joy Adole Akum.

Bala Elkana told Independent on neither admitted nor refuted the allegation that one of the prime suspects (husband ) had been released by the police in a matter that had to do with suspected murder.

He said: “I don’t believe in rumour. It was a case of suicide that was reported to the police. We are still investigating. It is autopsy report that will guide in the investigation. We have seen some marks of violence, but we are not concluding until autopsy result is out.”

When asked if the suspects in the police facility in connection to the mat­ter could be allowed to speak to our cor­respondent, the Police image maker retorted: “In this time of COVID-19? We don’t allow it. We have to be careful. Investigations and autopsy report will prove.”

The deceased maid, who was said to have worked for one Mrs Fortune Steve at her residence on No. 18 Ogun­dola Street, Bariga area of Lagos was found dead with a rope on her neck and suspended on the ceiling of the room.

Mrs Fortune Steve and her hus­band was said to have reported the case at Ilaje Police Station before the case was later transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelli­gence Department (SCIID), Yaba of the Lagos State command for discreet investigation.