Ifeoma Abugu: Senate orders SARs probe over alleged rape, killing

The Nigerian Senate has called for full scale investigation of alledged rape and killing of Miss Ifeoma Abugu by men of Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARs).

Senate’s call was precipitated by a motion raised by Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North Senatorial district.

At the resumed plenary on Tuesday, Utazi lamented the extra judicial killing of Ifeoma Abugu by operatives of Special Anti-robbery Squads, while he prayed for Senate’s intervention.

The late Abugu was arrested by a team from FCT SARs on September 10 when operatives stormed the residence of her fiancé, Afam Ugwunwa, in Wumba village, Lokogoma.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the Senator said the men of the FCT Command allegedly raped, tortured and killed the woman for an alleged offence committed by her fiance.

“She was arrested in place of her fiance for an alleged crime contrary to the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. She was detained, raped, tortured and killed.

“The sad event had brought to focus again the high rate of human abuse perpetrated by men of the SARS despite reforms,” he said.

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, mandated the Senate Committees on Police Affairs, Judiciary and Human Rights to investigate the matter and report back within two weeks to the plenary.

He said the matter was too serious to be swept under the carpet.