The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has commenced investigations into the gruesome murder of a former Director of Administration at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Alakahia, Port Harcourt, Boma Amaomu-Jumbo by her erstwhile security guard.

The deceased, a career civil servant who rose through the ranks to become the Director of Administration in UPTH, was a native of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, while her assailant is indigene of Nasarawa State in North Central Nigeria.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who made this disclosure in a statement on Friday, May 12, 2023 in Port Harcourt, said the case involved a former security guard, John Danjuma, who allegedly killed his former employer, Boma Amaomu-Jumbo in her residence in Port Harcourt.

She informed that the suspect has been arrested and the incident is being investigated.

A Port Harcourt based legal practitioner, Dolapo Tella Attoni told newsmen that the incident would have been avoided if the relevant authorities involved had taken cognizance of the facts that the suspect was a flight risk and done their job professionally.

“It’s regrettable and very, very unfortunate in the sense that the incident would have been prevented if the institutions and authorities has done their work properly.”

“The suspect in question, before he plotted to eliminate the deceased, was actually arrested and arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt. “

“He used to be an employee of the deceased and, in the course of his engagement or work, he stole her valuables as well as cash and absconded from jurisdiction, from Port Harcourt. He was apprehended in Nasarawa State.”

“Now, I believe that looking at the facts of the case, the prosecution ordinarily may have taken cognizance of the fact that the suspect was a flight risk.”

“This was somebody who absconded and was apprehended in faraway Nasarawa, so, he was a flight risk. Yes, the case of theft or stealing is a bailable offence but it’s important that the condition for bail should not be light in the sense that it should be stringent.”

He, however, said that he would work with the Police to ensure that justice is served in the matter.

“He will be arraigned obviously before the High Court of Justice in Rivers State and should be triable because it’s a first degree murder in the sense that the intention, looking at the corpse of the deceased, is as clear as crystal that the intention was to kill her and the motive is clear, to prevent her from testifying in respect of an ongoing criminal trial.”

“My law firm will hold a watching brief on behalf of the family, we’ll ensure that one way or the order justice is served. Initially, the Abacha Road Police Station took charge of the investigation then later officers of the State CID came in and right now, he is being detained at the State CID.”

The suspect had confessed in a viral video that he made his way into his now deceased employer through the guest room at about 3am and stayed with her in the house without her knowing until about 5pm when it started raining.

He said he assailed her with a machete he found in her house and butchered her to death. With the heavy downpour, it was impossible for neighbours to hear her screams until she gave up the ghost.