By Praise Chinecherem
Police in Anambra State said they have arrested eleven suspects over alleged of rape and defilement in various parts of the state.The State Police Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga (DSP), said in a statement that six of the arrested suspects gang-raped a 19-year-old girl at Orama-Etiti Anam in Anambra West LGA, while three others raped a 15-year-old girl at Abagana in Njikoka LGA.
Ikenga further disclosed that another suspect, apprehended by local vigilante at Ekwulobia, confessed to paying his 13-year old victim between N500 and N1000 before defiling her.He said, “On 11/7/2023 an obscene video clip that went viral showed a young lady aged 19 years being gang raped by a group of boys. Investigation revealed that the incident happened at Orama-Etiti Anam.
The Police at Otuocha collaborated with the local vigilante in the area and arrested six suspects involved in the criminal act.”They are Chinua Obikezie aged 17 years old, Collins Ogbodo age 19years, Ifeanyi Chijoke aged 17years old, Abuchi Ikechukwu aged 17years old, Ezenwa Afam aged 18 years, and Sunday Okafor aged 27 years”Three other suspects implicated in the ignoble act are still at large. During interrogation, all six suspects confessed to have taken part in the crime.”In a similar development, Police at Abagana while on patrol with the local vigilante on 8th July, 2023 arrested three suspects on the allegation of rape of a 15-year-old girl.
The suspects are Chimezie Odugwu ‘M’ 21 years old, Nnamdi Anodebe ‘M’ aged 19 years old, and Jude Onua 48 years old.”From the confession of the suspects, they found the victim wandering at Abagana junction before Chimezie lured her to Nnamdi’s house in the same locality and both had carnal knowledge of her. She left the suspect’s house in tears and the elderly Jude on the pretext of sheltering her brought her to his house and raped her before she was rescued by the Police and Vigilantes.”In a related development, Police Operatives from Ekwulobia Division arrested one Chinenye Ezemehege aged 41 years in connection to the case of defilement of a 13-year-old girl.
The suspect who claim to be a Security Guard at the market confessed to the act and stated that he had been paying the girl #500 to #1000 for her “service”.”Preliminary information revealed that the parents of the girl normally send her to get firewood at the Ekwulobia Market before she fell prey to the suspect.”Police Operatives attached to Atani Division on 13/7/2023 arrested one Odimako Ikenga ‘M’ aged 38 years of Ossomala Village, Ogbaru LGA.
The suspect has been on the Police wanted list in an ongoing investigation of a case of defilement of a 12-year-old girl reported to the Police Station on 28/8/2022.”According to Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police, while praising Police operatives and vigilantes for being alive to their responsibility to society, urged Parents/Guardians to pay greater attention to influence factors children are exposed to. He expressed his determination to tackle menace of sexual crimes and gender-based violence in the State, warning sexual predators, especially those who prey on minors of no hiding place.
He also directed that all the suspects indicted in the course of the investigation be arraigned without delay once investigations were concluded.
