William Ovie Opia and Johnbull Asbour, two Nigerian nationals suspected of being involved in the brutal murder of JKUAT student Rita Waeni, have been released from custody.
The pair had been held since January 22, 2024, to allow the police to conduct their investigations into the murder of the 24-year-old student.
The arrest of Opia and Asbour took place in Ndenderu, Kiambu County, where a hatchet, a butcher knife, and six mobile phones were recovered from their residence.
Therefore,these items were found to be linked to the murder and other criminal activities, according to the police report.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Opia had purchased the hatchet from an online vendor.
The discovery of Rita Waeni’s dismembered body parts in a bag along TRM Drive,
off Thika Road in Nairobi, on January 14 had prompted the involvement of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The family of Rita Waeni released a statement on January 17,
disclosing that the killers had demanded a ransom of Ksh500,000.
This information added further complexity to the case.
After considering the evidence and conducting their inquiries,
the Makadara Courts Magistrate Agnes Mwangi made the decision to release Opia and Asbour.
However, she also ordered that the suspects must appear before investigators on a weekly basis.
Thus,the release of the Nigerian nationals raises questions regarding the progress of the investigation and the potential involvement of other individuals in the murder.
The police will need to continue their efforts to identify and apprehend all those responsible for this heinous crime.
The gruesome murder of Rita Waeni has shocked the community and left her family devastated.
Consequently,the pursuit of justice for Rita will undoubtedly remain a top priority for the authorities-
as they work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to account.
As the investigation continues, it is hoped that additional evidence will come to light,
leading to the identification of all those involved in this tragic and senseless act.
