Rape Cases under Investigation Since Nation’s Outcry…

In the wake of outcries of Nigerians against rape, three suspects have been arrested by the Police Command in Akwa Ibom State for different cases of defiling minors, including a 55-year-old man who allegedly raped his step-daughter.

CSP Nnudam Fredrick, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday.

He said that the suspect, an indigene of Odot 1 village in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of the state, was said to have chased Glory out of the house when he discovered that she was pregnant after raping her.

The police further said that a 38 year-old cultist, one Ekemini Asuquo, confessed that he lured a 14 year-old girl with N1,500 to a hotel where he forcefully raped her.

Asuquo reportedly later snatched the money from his victim and threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to the Police.

The PPRO also said that a corps member on primary assignment in Uyo was gang raped by two persons, Ofonime Essien and Frank Okon, when she went to charge her phone in their house.

“Following a distress call on Monday, June 8, 2020 at about 4:30p.m, Police Operatives at Abak swung into action and arrested a 38-yr-old confessed cultist, one Ekemini Asuquo Aya of No.7 Afaha Obong/Etim Ekpo, Abak.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect, Ekemini Asuquo, who claimed to be a tailor, on Monday, June 8, 2020 at about 1:30p.m, lured one girl, aged 14, with N1,500 to Celebrity Hotel, Abak.

“Where he raped and thereafter, snatched the said money from the victim. Suspect also threatened to kill the victim if she reports the incident to the police,” he said.

The PPRO said that all the suspects had confessed to the crime and would soon be arraigned.

He warned perpetrators of such acts to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the law.

The Street Journal had earlier reported that the International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to declare rape as a national crisis in the country.

Amnesty International said on Wednesday, June 3, that it joined its voice to other civil societies demanding justice over the incident of rape and murder of a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Uwavera Omozuwa, as well as 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan, Oyo State.

AI Nigeria in a series of tweets noted that a “toxic culture that encourages men to see women as passive sex objects” must be discouraged.

The organisation said, “The government’s response to rape continues to be, woefully inadequate. Frequent reports of rape across Nigeria is a gruesome reminder of the violence women and girls face. Violence against women and girls is often not properly registered or investigated.

“We are joining people in Nigeria to demand justice for Omozuwa who was murdered and raped in a Nigerian church. Violence against women must stop. Authorities have to ensure justice for her and other women.” it said.