The Anambra State Government has arrested one Mr Ike Okoye in Isuofia for allegedly molesting and engaging in same-sex activities with young boys in Isuofia, Aguata local government area of the state.
The arrest was masterminded through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA, Brigade.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 on the the official Facebook page of the Commissioner, Hon. Ify Obinabo, the incident was reported to the ministry by the President-General of Isuofia Peoples Assembly, Chief Jude Chikadibia-Okeke.
Chikadibia-Okeke disclosed that Okoye has been molesting and engaging young men in homosexual activities for a long time but that anytime he got arrested, he usually got bailed by higher individuals in the state.
Chief Chikadibia-Okeke recounted that they caught Mr Okoye over the weekend having sexual relationships with lots of boys and young men and quickly put a call through to the Women Affairs Commissioner who instructed them to apprehend him immediately.
The suspect Okoye, a native of Okpoko village, Isuofia, and a retired teacher, earlier denied the same sex allegations on the basis that it was his haters at work.
However, he later revealed that he had at some point romanced some of the boys, and held their private sexual organs but never penetrated them as alleged. He begged for forgiveness.
Meanwhile, two of his victims who pleaded anonymity said that the suspect usually comes under the guise of either assisting them with financial issues or allowing them to do his house chores and get paid.
One of his victims, who is currently 25 years, explained that the suspect first molested him when he was 17 years old and ever since then has been on his case until he decided to involve his mother.
The other, 31-year-old, stated that the suspect usually gets satisfied when he holds his private part but he got uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Both victims alleged that after they left, the suspect kept pressuring them and even threatened them at some point.
The Women Affairs boss, Hon Ify Obinabo alongside her colleague, the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere, expressed sadness over the development and assured the state governmentโs resolve to end child molestation and homosexuality in the state.
The suspect was handed over to the police for further investigation.
