Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, the 22-year-old undergraduate raped and murdered in Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin, Edo state, is to be laid to rest today, November 13.
The death of Vera, a 100 level microbiology student of Uniben, angered Nigerians and renewed calls for stiffer punishment for rapists.
She had gone to Church to read during the Covid-19 lockdown when she was attacked in church. She died days later in a hospital.
Back in August, six suspects were arrested in relation to Vera’s death.
One of the suspects said he was paid 1 Million Naira by his landlady to carry out the attack.
The suspect, Collins Uligbe, who hails from Agbor in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, made the confession while being paraded alongside other suspects by the Edo State Police Command.
He said after the act, he used a handkerchief given to him by Mrs Mary Ade to wipe Uwa’s blood and private part and returned it to his landlady.
According to him, she wanted to use it for rituals.
He gave the names of the other suspected killers as Nelson Ogbebor, Tina Samuel, another lady, Valentine Akato and Nosa Osabohien.
Narrating the incident, Collins said although they were six that carried out the crime, he was outside giving them signals before he joined them inside the church.
Collins said Nelson hit the victim with a plank and when she tried to stand up he hit her with the fire extinguisher in the church.
The suspects were traced through a man who bought the victim’s phone for N17,000.
However, Mary Ade, denied the allegation, saying she neither gave him the money nor asked him to wipe the lady’s private part.