An Imo Government Taskforce Official(namewitheld) has been accused of attempting to rape a 12 year old girl who was simply identified as Onyinye in an Owerri hotel some two weeks ago.
A source who pleaded anonymity and refused to disclose the name of the hotel had revealed that the said suspect who was later arrested by the anti-Kidnapping unit of the State police command allegedly paid the sum of four hundred thousand naira(#400,000) to one Mrs Oby, Onyinye’s guidance that owns an eatery and drinking bar at the Imo ENTRACO office, along Aba Road, Owerri to release Onyinye for him to have carnal knowledge of her for alleged ritual purposes.
Having agreed with the suspect, Mrs Oby arranged for Onyinye to meet the suspect at a hotel but the twelve (12) year old Onyinye who suspected foul play managed to escape from the hotel.The suspect created a scene while chasing the minor about within the hotel premises which made some people to raise alarm.It was said that observers alerted the police and ENTRACO General Manager,Hon Macdonald Ebere who facilitated his arrest ,together with his accomplice but they were later released, perhaps after some money exchanged hands.
When our reporter contacted the suspect who acknowledged that he is a taskforce official attached to ENTRACO, denied the accusation and maintained that it was a set up, an allegation to damage his personality.
Mrs Oby,the food vendor who as alleged collected N400,000 to release the ward, while speaking with our reporter said,”go to anti- kidnapping Unit,shell camp Owerri and confirm my innocence”. According to her, she spent two nights in police custody and was released because she was found innocent. She further said that the person who was behind her ordeal was a woman that threatened to deal with her but vowed that her hands are clean and the evidence of her innocence is with the police.She also said in contrary that Onyinye who had been helping her in her restaurant is 20 years of age, as against what our source told us.
A visit to ENTRACO office, located along Aba Road by this reporter shows that Oby’s restaurant has been demolished by staff of ENTRACO who felt agreived by the sad development.Further investigation revealed that the Minor has been taken back to Mbaise where she is receiving medical attention.
Speaking further, our source commended the ENTRACO General Manager, for his wisdom in ordering the arrest of the suspects but regretted the way and manner Police handled such a sensitive case involving attempted rape of a minor for rituals.He said,at present,the suspect are evening threatening to deal with management staff of ENTRACO because of their stance on the matter.They were emboldened by the fact that the police released them without charging them to court.
Similarly,when contacted, the ENTRACO GM confirmed the arrest of the two suspects but referred our reporter to Imo state Police command to enquire what transpired with the case.
Effort to reach the husband of the food seller who introduced Onyinye to Oby and was said to have taken the kid back to her parents proved abortive.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Orlando Ikeokwu said he would call back after confirmations. At press time, Orlando Ikeokwu was unable to reach our reporter of the news desk to confirm the story.
