Imo: Police order investigation into killing of 18-year-old girl

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has directed a thorough investigation into the tragic death of 18-year-old Kasarachi Oduoma.

Oduoma lost her life at Umuelemai Junction, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state when a struggle for control of a red Toyota Camry’s steering wheel between two police officers and a motorist resulted in a fatal accident.

In response to the incident, the Commissioner has tasked the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) with ensuring justice is served.

Following the directive, a relative of the deceased, Ikechukwu Osuji, has already provided a formal statement at the SCID office in Owerri.

Human rights activist, Chidiebube Okeoma, conveyor of the Stand for Humanity Foundation, stressed the urgency of the case, saying, “Kasarachi Oduoma was full of life, pursuing a career in fashion and decoration to support her struggling family before she was recklessly killed.”

He maintained that the deceased deserves justice, even in death, reaffirming that the foundation is committed to ensuring that her family receives the justice they deserve.

“We trust the state Commissioner of Police will act decisively in this matter,” he said.

In a similar vein, an Owerri-based lawyer, Chijioke Onwubuariri, has submitted a formal petition urging the Police Commissioner to ensure that those responsible do not evade justice.

The petition, written on behalf of the deceased's family, provides details of the tragic incident.

It revealed that on the morning of March 27, 2025, at approximately 8:15 AM, Oduoma was standing by the roadside with two others, Eberechi Obieje and Agbim Uchechi, preparing to cross the street.

The petition stated that suddenly, a red Toyota Camry, driven by an unidentified motorist accompanied by two police officers, veered into the area and struck Oduoma, killing her instantly.

Eyewitnesses report that the driver immediately abandoned the vehicle and fled in an unknown direction, while the accompanying police officers took the car to the local division headquarters in Umuelemai.

The victim’s father has since moved her body to a nearby mortuary.

The petition calls for an urgent and impartial investigation into the incident to establish the facts and ensure that those responsible face the full weight of the law.