Following the rape and gruesome murder of a young job-seeker, Miss Iniubong Ephraim Umoren, the House of Representatives has charged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to see to the perpetrator(s) prosecution.

Reacting during Tuesday’s plenary, the House strongly condemned Umoren’s murder by a fake potential employer in Akwa Ibom State, charging Baba to “immediately commission and take over the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the heinous crime.”

WUZUPNIGERIA reported that Umoren got a job invitation on Twitter on April 27th but went missing on April 29th, after she was reported to have met her interviewer at Ibiaku, Ibiono Ibom, area of the state.

A friend of Umoren, with Twitter username, @UmohUduak1, raised alarm over the victim’s disappearance, with all fingers pointing towards her interviewer, Uduak Frank Akpan.

About three days after the victim had disappeared, she was confirmed dead on Sunday morning.

However,  Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s spokesperson, Odiko Macdon, later disclosed that two persons were arrested in connection with the disappearance of the job-seeker.

In a follow-up statement by the Akwa Ibom police on Sunday, it was confirmed that the chief suspect, Akpan, kidnapped, sexually violated, killed and subsequently buried the victim to cover up his atrocity.

Following the gruesome murder, the House also tasked its Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to follow up with the investigation and prosecution.

The Punch reported that the motion was moved by Mr Unyime Idem, the lawmaker representing Ukanafun/Oruk, Anam Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom.

IGP  Baba was also mandated to “ensure the protection of her family members from harassment, intimidation, and harm” after the adoption of the motion titled ‘A Call for Comprehensive Investigation, Prosecution and Punishment of the Perpetrator(s) of the Kidnapping, Sexual Assault and Heinous Killing of Miss Iniubong Ephraim Umoren and the Need to Protect Her Family Members.’

“The House is cognizant that it has been reported that the assailant, upon his arrest by the police and subsequent voluntary confession, boasted that he is well connected and will be released from the police custody scot-free in a matter of days.

“The House is bothered that the family members of the deceased have reportedly raised an alarm of receiving strange phone calls and threats of various degrees and have been asked to withdraw the case.

“The House regrets that the Nigeria Police Force has been reporting a surging high record in rape and gender violation across the country. Unfortunately, a very scary number of cases have been reported daily with thousands unreported. These acts are gross violations of human rights to dignity, life and sexuality.

“The House is concerned that the public outrage on account of rape and other violent crimes against women and the girl child should not go unpunished as a deterrent for the perpetrators and others nursing the thought to forestall future occurrence,” Idem said on Tuesday.