The rising wave of rapes is assuming a different dimension following the arrest and detention of pastor of an unnamed church in Akwa Ibom State over attempted rape of a 21-year-old girl and defilement of a 15-year-old minor.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the state Police Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, CP CP Imohimi Edgal “Following a complaint on 18/06/2020, Operatives of SCIID, Uyo arrested one Pastor Inimfon Eyo Inyang ‘m’, aged 33yrs old of Nung Atim Road, Off Idoro Road, Uyo for attempting to rape a 21-yr-old girl.
“Investigation further revealed that the said Pastor, who lives with eight (8) other girls between the ages of 13yrs and 16yrs in his so-called deliverance centre at the said address, severally had unlawful carnal knowledge of one of the minors who is 15-yr-old.”
He said the suspect would be prosecuted in line with the Criminal Law Code for perpetrating the crime.
The Commissioner of Police stated “Consequent upon a distress call on 22/06/2020, Operatives of Oron Division apprehended one Emmanuel Okon Otu ‘m’, aged 30yrs old of Uko Nteghe, Mbo L.G.A. The suspect invaded a residence at No. 4 Secretariat Road, Oron at about 1:30 am of the said date, where he had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 28-yr-old lady at gunpoint, and thereafter robbed the victim of her Techno Spark 4 phone valued forty-two thousand naira (N42,000.00), one Itel phone valued nine thousand naira (N9,000.00), one big towel valued five thousand naira (N5,000.00) and the sum of thirty-two thousand naira (N32,000.00).
According to him, “On 21/06/2020 at about 3:30pm, Operatives of Esit Eket Division arrested one Ime Sunday ‘m’ of Ekpene Obo, Esit Eket L.G.A. Investigation revealed that the suspect in November 2019 repeatedly raped his 16-yr-old daughter which cumulated to her escaping from her father’s home to her friend’s abode in Etinan L.G.A. However, the father of the victim who persuaded her to return back home with the promise that she would no longer be sexually violated continued in the same act after she returned home.
“Responding to a distress call on 20/06/2020 at about 6:37 am, Operatives of Ibeno Division apprehended one Okon Okon Asuquo ‘m’, aged 23yrs old of Uton Street, Ibeno L.G.A who dragged a 14-yr-old minor from Uton Waterside to his house and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
He said, “Relying on credible information on 13/6/2020 at about 5:20 pm, Operatives of ‘C’ Division arrested one Solomon Emmanuel Okon ‘m’ of No. 16 Johnson Street, Uyo who raped and assaulted a 28-yr-old lady on 12/6/2020 at the same address.”
Moreover, Edgal stated “On 13/6/2020 at about 8:00 am while responding to a distress call, Operatives of ‘C’ Division arrested one Sampson Ndiana-Abasi ‘m’. Investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with one Blessed ‘m’ now at large and gang-raped an 11-yr-old girl.
“Information received on 9/6/2020 by Operatives of Ibesikpo Asutan Division led to the apprehension of one Gospel Timothy ‘m’ of Atai Essien, Oruk Anam L.G.A. The suspect allegedly raped a 21-yr-old girl. Investigation revealed that the mother of the victim sent her on an errand, but she was waylaid by the suspect and forcefully taken to his house where he forcefully had unlawfully carnal knowledge of the victim.
“Relying on credible intelligence, on 18/06/2020 at about 3:00 pm, Operatives of Essien Udim Division arrested one Ndiana Samuel John ‘m’ who forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 15-yr-old girl after inflicting a machete cut on her left hand in order to forestall her resistance.”
