‘My sister wasn’t killed over HIV’ — Family demands justice for slain Enugu lady

The family of slain Enugu lady, Chinyere Susan Rosemary Ugwu, popularly known as ITCHINNYS Event Planner, has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into her death.

Rosemary’s immediate elder sister, Kenechi Maryam, made the call in a statement on Thursday, amid reports of the circumstances around her sister’s death.

Maryam said the family was questioning reports that Rosemary was killed because of HIV, stressing that such claims should not be treated as established facts until investigations are concluded.

She said she personally witnessed an interview involving the suspect in the presence of the Commissioner of Police, her younger brother, parents and an aunt who is also a police officer.

According to her, the suspect initially reportedly said he used a pestle to attack Rosemary but gave a different account when questioned about some of the injuries allegedly found on her body.

“According to the account we heard, the suspect initially spoke about using a pestle to attack my sister. However, when questioned about some of the injuries, including injuries to her head and neck, he reportedly gave a different account and mentioned using a machete,” she said.

The family, she added, wants authorities to establish what exactly happened to Rosemary, what caused the injuries on her body and what was used to inflict them.

Maryam also raised questions over the circumstances in which Rosemary’s body was allegedly kept inside a toilet within the apartment.

She further called for an explanation regarding items reportedly found in the apartment, including a calabash, candles and red cloth or rope.

“Where is one of my sister’s wrists?” she also asked.

Maryam, however, cautioned against drawing conclusions from the issues raised, saying they were questions requiring proper investigation and evidence.

“These are not conclusions from me. They are questions that require proper investigation and evidence,” she said.

She appealed to the police, medical professionals and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death.

The bereaved family also appealed to journalists, bloggers, human rights advocates, lawyers and responsible social media users not to reduce Rosemary’s death to what it described as an unverified headline.

Maryam urged anyone with genuine information, photographs, videos or other credible evidence that could assist the investigation to preserve and submit such material to the family or appropriate authorities.

“We are not asking anyone to take the law into their own hands. We are asking for truth, due process and justice,” she said.

She described Rosemary as a hard-working, ambitious and determined young woman who worked to build a life for herself.

“My sister was someone’s daughter. She was someone’s sister. She was someone’s friend. She had dreams, plans and a future,” Maryam said.

She added: “Whatever the circumstances surrounding her death, she deserves to have the truth established.”