The police in Rivers State have arrested a woman, identified only as Abigail, for allegedly stabbing a 12-year-old girl in Rumuodara, in the Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that the girl, Oluebube, resided in the compound with the 30-year-old suspect.
The incident happened on Saturday during a minor disagreement.
Narrating the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the sister of the injured girl, Olucho, said the suspect attacked Oluebube after the latter “mistakenly hit her with water in the corridor”.
She stated, “My sister was washing plates outside. The woman (Abigail) went to fetch water.
“Because our corridor is dark, the person inside can see somebody outside, but the person outside cannot see the person inside.
“The woman stood there with her water, but she did not tell my sister not to come with the pots she was carrying to avoid running into her.
“So, my sister unknowingly entered with the pots and ran into the woman and both of them fell.
“The woman started beating my sister. Other neighbours begged her that it was a mistake, but the woman refused.”
Olucho said Abigail ordered her sister to sweep the spilled water.
“So, she went back to fetch another water, while my sister continued to wash the dishes and later took a broom to sweep the water.
“But as my sister was about to sweep the water out, she (Abigail) went inside and came out with a knife, which she used to stab my sister.
“The head of the knife broke and the knife stayed in my sister’s body. We immediately reported to the police; the woman entered her room and fled through the back door.
“But some neighbours caught her and handed her over to the police. My sister is in the hospital now.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that doctors had removed the knife from the victim’s body.
She stated, “The woman has been arrested and is in our custody. She will face the wrath of the law for her actions.
“The girl is responding to treatment and investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, a group, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The National Coordinator of the group, Prince Wiro, urged the police to arraign the suspect immediately if found culpable.
