TWO suspected attackers of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member posted to Obuah community in Yenagoa Local Council of Bayelsa State, Miss Folakemi Akinbode, were Thursday arrested by the police.

 

The suspects claimed they attacked her with a machete due to her refusal to hand over unspecified cash in her possession.

 

The suspects, identified as Ebi Jatto and Weriye Aluwa, were arrested on Wednesday at the Koroama community in Yenagoa Local Council of the state while attempting to sell the handset belonging to the attacked corps member.

 

A top police source said that the suspects had confessed to commiting the crime and claimed the Folakemi, the 26-year- old Ondo State indigene, struggled with them while they were attempting to snatch her bag.

 

Folakemi, who was attacked at about 8.30 p.m. on Monday while returning to the Corpers’ Lodge near the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobori, was reported to have been in possession of huge amount of money used by the hospital to pay blood donors.

 

According to the police source, the two attackers were present during the payment made to the blood donors by the Corps member, adding “they claimed that all they wanted from her was the remaining money she kept in her bag after the payments in the afternoon. But that when she struggled and identified one of them, she was attacked with a machete.”

 

Confirming the arrest, the paramount ruler of Obunagha community, the Ibolou XI, Godsgive Apoh, said the arrest of the suspected attackers was made possible by the community’s Youth Vigilance Association set up to investigate and apprehend the culprits.

 

Contacted on the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest and said they were yet to establish the motive behind the attack.

 

BY WILLIE ETIM

Gaurdian