The Rivers State police command has apprehended an ex-militant Gracious David West, who was declared wanted for alleged murder of about 13 women in the state.
It was learnt that West, 26, was arrested on Wednesday along East-West Road while he was fleeing to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Confirming the arrest, the command said via its twitter handle that the suspect was a member of the Deygbam cult group.
It added that West had made useful statements.
“Investigation is on with a view to ascertaining his motives and possible accomplices. The Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mustapha Dandaura will be briefing the media on this significant police breakthrough on September 20,” the police said.
It would be recalled that West was declared wanted by the police on Wednesday after a close circuit television camera footage showed he had booked into a hotel with a young woman who was found dead on Tuesday.
The Nation reports that the suspect had confessed to have killed five women in similar manner in Imo State and seven in Port Harcourt
West, it was gathered, told detectives that he was under a curse from his community and it was responsible for his actions.
Narrating how he strangled his victims, he said: “We were inside the club then we discussed on how much I will pay her. After that we left the club to the hotel at Osas Road. When we got there, they took her up and I said let me look for a way to arrange for food that we will both eat.
“After eating, we slept till the next morning around 5:30am. I brought out a knife. She was unaware there was a knife. So, I told her not to shout that if she does I will use the knife on her.
“Out of fear she kept quite. During that time the television volume was loud. Then I used the wrapper to tie her hands her legs from the back and strangled her with pillow case.”
A native of Buguma local government area of Rivers State, West was alleged have been a renowned armed robber who was rehabilitated by a church which later assisted him to secure a job at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Despite that, he was said to have carried on with his criminal activities until June 2018 when the police declared him wanted
