Edith CHUKU
The Rivers State Police command has confirmed the arrest of a 25-year-old man whose name was given as Prince, accused of abducting and defiling a 13-year-old girl, in Ogbogoro, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said, “”yes I can confirm the arrest of the suspect by Ozuoba Police Division.
“The suspect will be transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department SCIID, for further and discreet investigation.”
It was gathered that in the early hours of Friday, Detectives from Ozuoba Police Division arrested the suspect, who is said to be in his mid-twenties over abduction and defilement of the 13-year-old girl.
Mother of the teenage girl who did not want her identity revealed disclosed that her daughter was abducted on March 18, 2024.
She explained that the suspect, Prince sent her on errand and took her to his place, where she alleged that her daughter was supposedly defiled repeatedly for two days before she escaped.
The incident was reported to Ozuoba Police Division that launched manhunt for the suspect. Detectives attached to the station acting on credible and actionable intelligence arrested the suspect in his house on Friday morning.
Reacting to the incident, National Coordinator of Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Mr. Prince Wire, commended the Police for the arrest.
Wiro told newsmen that “I received the news of the arrest of the suspect in alleged abduction and defilement of the 13-year-old girl with joy.
“I commend the Ozuoba Police Division for the arrest. Unfortunately, there are indications that the parents of the girl want to abandon the case when I spoke with the father this morning.
“I am aware that some persons claiming to be friends of the suspect threatened the teenage girl and her parents shortly after the suspect was arrested. I condemn attempts to instill fear in the teenage girl and her parents even as I urge the Police to ensure justice is done to all parties in the matter.”
