CALABAR—A
dealer in petroleum products in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River
State has been arrested by operatives of the state Police Command for
allegedly
breaking into the apartment of a National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, member
(names withheld) and raping her.
The incident, Vanguard reported, happened at
Obutong Estate, Ekpri Obutong, in the council. Rape According to a neighbour of
the victim, who pleaded anonymity, the suspect broke into the house of the NYSC
member at 11p.m. on Friday, raped her, and stole her phones, cash and other
valuables. According to the source, “as you can see, this house does not have
burglary proof. It is just the glass and anyone can enter our house at anytime.
We live in a very dangerous environment and we have been facing serious
security challenges in this estate. “This is not the first time they are raping
women in this place.
But it is quite unfortunate that at this time, it is a
visitor (NYSC member) that was the victim. “We learned that she has been moved
to Calabar because as we speak, she is still in shock. But we are also happy
that the Police did a good job by apprehending the culprit. We believe justice
will be served.”
How she recognised her attacker Another NYSC member, who did
not want to be named, told Vanguard that the victim recognised her attacker
because he stayed for close to 30 minutes in her apartment. The NYSC member
said: “She told us that she recognised the suspect’s voice and shoes. Although
she is still in shock, she is glad he has been arrested.”
A Police source
revealed to Vanguard that the suspect, who knew that he had been recogni-sed,
took refuge at Akpabuyo, where he was arrested. The source added that the suspect is a popular petroleum
dealer in the area with a wife, who recently gave birth. Contacted, the Police
Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident.
He said: “It is true; we have arrested the suspect, and he has been identified
by his victim as the person who broke into her house that fateful night.” NYSC
reacts When contacted, the PRO, Cross River NYSC, Mallam Abdulahi Yuguda, said
the NYSC member was aware of the challenges facing corps members and that the
secretariat was in touch with the local government inspector for Bakassi and
the Head of LG Administration on the matter. He said: “We applaud the role
played by security agencies in Bakassi, which led to the arrest of the culprit.
The NYSC will not relent until justice is done.”
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