Etim Effiong
Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested five persons in connection with rape.
The suspects were said to have lured their victims to their houses, where they assaulted them sexually.
Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State, CSP N-NAdam Frederick, said a motorcyclist, one Edidiong Daniel Tommy, 31, diverted a 16-year-old female passenger to his house, where he and his co-conspirator had carnal knowledge of the girl at gunpoint.
Frederick, who said this on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi, in Uyo on Thursday, stated that Tommy was arrested by Abak Division following a distress call.
He added that the suspects also dispossessed the victim of her Illy phone valued at N17, 000.00 and the sum of N50, 000.
The PPRO said, “Responding to a distress call on May 20, detectives at Abak Division arrested a motorcyclist, one Edidiong Daniel Tommy ‘m’, 31, who diverted a 16-year-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-year-old girl at gunpoint.
“The suspects thereafter dispossessed the victim of her Illy phone valued N17, 000 and the sum of N50, 000.
“On June 21 around 5pm, following a complaint, detectives of Eket Division arrested one Sam Akpan Akpan ‘m’, 30, of Atabong/Liverpool Road, Eket.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect bought cooked cow skin a.k.a (Kpomo) worth N200.00 from a 10-year-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.”
According to him, following a credible intelligence, on July 5 around 8:30pm, detectives at Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended one Godwin Ime Willie, 34, of Ikot Ubo, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
He added that the suspect had unlawful carnal knowledge of his 15-year-old daughter.
He said, “Based on a tip-off on June 26, operatives of Area Command, Etim Ekpo arrested one Joseph Ekeruke Inyang ‘m’, and 36, of No. 1 Primary School Road, Utu Etim Ekpo, Etim Ekpo L.G.A, who lured a 12-year-old girl with N500.00 to his room, where he had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
“Following a complaint on June 25, operatives of Ikot Ekpene Division apprehended one Nsisong Moses Asuquo ‘m’, 34, of No. 7 Okonnah Street, Ikot Ekpene L.G.A, who sexually defiled a 13-year-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.”
Imohimi assured the victims of rape and other gender-based violence of effective remedies and protection against stigmatisation and threats as encapsulated in all extant laws, particularly in the Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
He warned 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 14 years imprisonment,” he said.