TheCable

The Akwa Ibom state police command says it has arrested a pastor and 11 others over rape and defilement of minors.

Imohimi Edgal, the state commissioner of police, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Uyo, the state capital, on Wednesday.

He said a 33-year-old pastor identified as Inimfon Inyang allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl at his deliverance centre.

The police said its findings revealed that the pastor, who lives with eight other girls within the age bracket of 13 and 16, had attempted to rape a 21-year-old girl.

Edgal said the police also arrested Emmanuel Otu, a 30-year-old indigene of Uko Nteghe, Mbo local government area of the state, for allegedly raping a 28-year-old lady at gunpoint.

He said Otu robbed his victim of two phones valued at N42,000 and N9,000 and N32,000 cash.

The CP added that Etebong Harrison, 21-year-old indigene of Ikot Akpan Udo, Ikot Abasi local government area of the state, was also arrested for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl.

He said the arrests show the command’s effort in combating rape, defilement and other gender based violence.

“The Police Command has arrested another Pastor and 11 others for rape and defilement,” he said.

“Following a complaint on 18/06/2020, 0peratives of SCIID, Uyo, arrested one Pastor Inimfon Eyo Inyang ‘m’, aged 33yrs old of Nung Atim Road, Off Idoro Road, Uyo for attempting to rape a 21-yr-old girl.

“Investigation further revealed that the said Pastor, who lives with eight other girls between the ages of 13yrs and 16yrs in his so-called deliverance centre at the said address, severally had unlawful carnal knowledge of one of the minors who is 15-yr-old.

“On 22/06/2020, operatives of Oron Division apprehended one Emmanuel Okon Otu ‘m’, aged 30yrs old of Uko Nteghe, Mbo L.G.A. “The suspect invaded a residence at No. 4 Secretariat Road, Oron at about 1:30am of the said date, where he had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 28-yr-old lady at gunpoint, and thereafter, robbed the victim of her Techno Spark 4 phone valued forty-two thousand naira (N42,000.00), one itel phone valued nine thousand naira (N9,000.00), one big towel valued five thousand naira (N5,000.00) and the sum of thirty-two thousand naira (N32,000.00).

“On 21/06/2020 at about 3:30pm, operatives of Esit Eket Division arrested one Ime Sunday ‘m’ of Ekpene Obo, Esit Eket L.G.A.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect in November, 2019 repeatedly raped his 16-yr-old daughter which cumulated to her escaping from her father’s home to her friend’s abode in Etinan L.G.A.

“However, the father of the victim, who persuaded her to return home with the promise that she would no longer be sexually violated, continued in same act after she returned home.”

On June 11, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) declared a state of emergency on gender-based and sexual form of violence.