FIVE SUSPECTS IN POLICE NET FOR RAPE IN AKWA IBOM STATE

FIVE SUSPECTS IN POLICE NET FOR RAPE IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The fight against perpetrators of Rape and other gender based violence in Akwa Ibom State yielded another breakthrough as five (5) suspects were arrested in the State. The suspects were arrested in connection with the following cases:

i. Responding to a distress call on 20/5/2020, Detectives of Abak Division arrested a motorcyclist, one Edidiong Daniel Tommy ‘m’, aged 31yrs who diverted a 16-yr-old passenger to his house situates at No. 75 Hospital Road, Abak L.G.A, where he conspired with one other suspect now at large and had unlawful carnal knowledge of the 16-yr-old girl on gunpoint. The suspects thereafter dispossessed the victim of her Illy phone valued seventeen thousand naira (N17, 000.00) and the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50, 000.00).

ii. On 21/6/2020 at about 5pm, following a complaint, Detectives of Eket Division arrested one Sam Akpan Akpan ‘m’, aged 30yrs of Atabong/Liverpool Road, Eket. Investigation revealed that the suspect bought cooked cow skin a.k.a “Kpomo” worth two hundred naira (N200.00) from a 10-yr-old girl and thereafter lured her to his house on the pretext that he left the money at home. On reaching his house, he dragged the girl to his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

iii. Relying on a credible intelligence, on 5/7/2020 at about 8:30pm, Detectives of Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended one Godwin Ime Willie ‘m’, aged 34yrs of Ikot Ubo, Ikot Ekpene L.G.A who forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of his 15-yr-old daughter.

iv. Based on a tip-off on 26/6/2020, Operatives of Area Command, Etim Ekpo arrested one Joseph Ekeruke Inyang ‘m’, aged 36yrs of No. 1 Primary School Road, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A who lured a 12-yr-old girl with five hundred naira (N500.00) to his room where he had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

v. Following a complaint on 25/6/2020, Operatives of Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended one Nsisong Moses Asuquo ‘m’, aged 34 yrs of No. 7 Okonnah Street, Ikot Ekpene L.G.A who sexually defiled a 13-yr-old girl. Investigation revealed that the suspect took the victim from her guardian to his home on the pretext of being a housemaid and severally defiled her before sending her away.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command while reassuring the victims of Rape and other gender based violence of effective remedies and protection against stigmatization and threats as encapsulated in all extant laws, particularly in the Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020, warns all sexual predators to desist forthwith or risk constant arrest and prosecution.

For the avoidance of doubt, sexual offenders, particularly rapists should be guided by the provisions of section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020, which stipulates a punishment of life imprisonment except where the offender is less than 16 years of age, the offender is liable to a maximum of 14years imprisonment.

CSP N-NUDAM K. FREDRICK
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
AKWA IBOM STATE.