The House of Representatives has asked Usman Baba, the acting Inspector-General of Police, to take over the murder case of Iniubong Umoren, a woman who was killed after she was lured by a fake potential employer.

The House made the resolution following a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Ukanafun/Oruk, Anam Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom, Unyime Idem, during plenary on Tuesday.

Iniubong was declared dead on Sunday, three days after her friend, Umoh Uduak, raised the alert of her disappearance on Twitter.

The House condemned the rape and gruesome murder of Iniubong, describing it as “barbaric, inhuman and despotic”.

The lower legislative chamber asked IGP Baba to “immediately commission and take over the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the heinous crime”.

It also mandated IGP to “ensure the protection of her family members from harassment, intimidation, and harm”.

Furthermore, the House directed its Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to follow up with the investigation and prosecution; ensure compliance with the resolutions and report back to the chamber.

Two days prior to when she was declared missing, the deceased, a graduate of Philosophy from the University of Uyo, had announced on Twitter that she was seeking a job.

The deceased’s friend, Uduak, had on 29 April posted a tweet, declaring that Iniubong had made a distress call to her, suspecting that her friend had been kidnapped while going to attend a job interview at Airport Road, Uyo.

Following subsequent tweets from Uduak, many Nigerians began a campaign for the return of the missing graduate under the hashtag #FindHinyUmoren.

The Akwa Ibom Police Command had in a statement on Sunday said it has arrested one Uduak Frank Akpan in connection to the disappearance and death of Iniobong.