‘We deployed ICT to track down, arrest alleged UNILAG female killer of Super TV boss’ -police
The police in Lagos said that their operatives deployed the use of information communication technology (ICT) to track down and arrest Chidinma Ojukwu, a 21-year-old student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), who allegedly killed Michael Usifo Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV.
Spokesman for the state Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the police deployed Information and Communication Technology to arrest the suspect in the night at her parents’ residence on Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba area of Lagos.
Her father was also arrested, after he had resisted police operatives because he did not believe that his daughter committed any crime until she later confessed.
Ojukwu, who is a 300-level student of Mass Communication student was later paraded on Thursday at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
She confessed to stabbing the 50-year-old Ataga to death on June 15, 2021 with a kitchen knife following a misunderstanding between herself and the deceased.
She also confessed to have been in a romantic relationship with Ataga for about four months before the ugly incident occurred at a Short Service Apartment, located at No 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki, Phase 1, Lagos.
The suspect further said that she and Ataga were “having fun” when an argument broke out and she stabbed him twice with the knife.
She also said that she withdrew N380,000 from his account using his ATM card which she took from him.
The suspect, who immediately fled the scene, was, however, later tracked down and arrested by the police.
The police said that items recovered from the suspect include: “Complimentary cards, Access Bank Statement of Account, one Nigerian Passport with No.B50010434 belonging to the suspect, and one fake Drivers license bearing Mary Johnson with the suspect’s photograph.
Other items recovered from the suspect are: one National Identification Card bearing her name, one UBA ATM debit card bearing her name and one University of Lagos ID card bearing her name.”
The statement further explained that an Information and Communication Technology unit recently created by the commissioner of police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, tracked the suspect, who used different SIM cards – both Nigerian and foreign ones.
The statement reads in part:
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, recently established ICT/Tracking Unit at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba-Lagos, to adopt scientific and forensic measures of unravelling crimes and criminality in Lagos State.
“The unit, named D23, headed by SP Kasumu Rilwan, a computer scientist, has been instrumental to the landmark achievements and many feats recorded by the command under the watch of CP Hakeem Odumosu.
“These include the latest arrest of the prime suspect in the alleged murder of Mr Michael Usifo Ataga, one Chidimma Adaora Ojukwu on 23rd, June, 2021.
“Similarly, the Commissioner of Police recently created two Squads, the Special Squad and the Strike Team, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja-Lagos, to complement the existing department and units of the command in combating crimes in the state.
“The new Squads, as well, have played many roles in suppressing and keeping criminals and hoodlums at bay in Lagos State.
“The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”
