A pastor’s son from Akwa Ibom State who disobeyed the Biblical injuction “Thou shall not covet thy neighbour’s wife … nor anything that is thy neighbour’s” has entered the trap of the state Police Command.
A 29-year-old Victor Felix Ukpong of 28 Okon Dan Street in Abak Local Government Area had been nabbed for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in his bedroom.
A police source indicated that the mother of the victim took her to her pastor’s house for custody while she went to market, but the pastor’s son took advantage of the victim and raped her.
CSP N-Nudam K. Fredrick, the state Police Public Relations Officer, who stated this in a press release on Saturday, said following a reliable intelligence on June 2, 2020, officers of Family Support Unit apprehended the suspect.
N-Nudam further said “Following a complaint on 30/6/2020 at about 5:00 p.m, operatives of Mbo Division apprehended one Edet Godwin Edet ‘m’, aged 27yrs of Ikangta Ibaka, Mbo L.G.A who forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-yr-old girl.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect, Edet Godwin Edet ‘m’ who worships in the same Church with the victim lured her under the pretense of employing her as a sale girl in his provisions shop, and thereafter he took advantage of the victim and raped her. In his bid to send the girl away, he accused her of stealing five hundred naira (N500.00), and in the process gave her a machete cut on her head. During investigation, the suspect confessed to the crime.”
“Following a tip-off on 3/7/2020 at about 2:30 p.m, operatives of Ikot Abasi Division apprehended one Inyang Ufot Umoh ‘m’, aged 45yrs of Ikwa, Ikot Abasi L.G.A who forcefully had unlawful carnal of an 8-yr-old girl on 3/4/2019. Investigation revealed that the suspect absconded from his residence after committing the crime to evade arrest, but was arrested as he resurfaced on 3/7/2020.
“Responding to a distress call on 11/7/2020 at about 10:00 p.m, detectives of Essien Udim Division promptly apprehended one Effiong Peter Akpan ‘m’, aged 40yrs, who hails from Adiasim Ikot Ekon village, Essien Udim L.G.A for conspiring with one other suspect, now at large and gang-raped a 12-yr-old girl in a bush.
“Following a complaint on 14/7/2020 at about 5.00 p.m, detectives of Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended one Etimbuk Moses Isong ‘m’, aged 16yrs of Nto Nsek, Ikot Ekpene L.G.A who lured a 13-yr-old girl with five hundred naira (N500.00) and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her in his provisions shop,” the police spokesperson said.
According to him, “On 13/7/2020 at about 5:00 p.m, operatives of Ikot Udota Division apprehended one Samuel Ekpo Udo ‘m’, aged 28yrs of Effoi Idung Nsedep, Eket L.G.A who forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-yr-old girl in a nearby bush.”
“The Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State reaffirms the Command’s commitment to the protection of victims of rape against any form of threats, and enjoins them not to be dissuaded by stigmatization, but to continue to report all cases of rape and other gender-based violence.
“Again, the Command appreciates the judiciary for speedy trial of accused persons involved in sexually related cases, noting that there will be no safe haven for sexual offenders in the State,” he assured.