By John Ugo, Awka
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested and detained eleven suspects in connection with various cases of rape and defilement in the state.
The uspects 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 27y years.
Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Awka the state capital.
He stated that, “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 and investigation revealed that the incident happened at Orama-etiti, Anam, in Anambra West local government area of the State.
According to the command,”The Police at Otuocha collaborated with the local vigilante in the area and arrested six suspects involved in the criminal act.”
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.
Similarly, 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.
“The victim 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.” The police said
In a related development, Police Operatives from Ekwulobia Division arrested one Chinenye Ezemehege, aged 41 years in connection with a case of defilement of a 13-year-old girl.
The suspect who claimed 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 sends her to get firewood at the Ekwulobia Market before she fell prey to the suspect.”
Also, 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.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye has commended operatives of the command and vigilantes for being alive to their responsibility to society.
He expressed determination to tackle headlong the menace of sexual crimes and gender-based violence in the State.
He vowed that there would be no hiding place for sexual predators especially those who prey on minors.
The Commissioner therefore directed that all the suspects indicted in the course of the investigation be arraigned in court without delay once investigation is concluded.
Adeoye who decried the disturbing moral decadence in the Society urged parents/guardians to pay greater attention to factors children are exposed to.
