The Anambra State Police Command have arrested a 56-year-old man identified as Boniface Onyekwere for attempting to rape of a 12-year-old maid entrusted in his custody.
Onyekwere, who is said to be an evangelist with one of the new generational churches was arrested at No 6 Melock Street, Ifite Awka, Anambra State.
The PUNCH had reported that a 12-year-old girl jumped from a storey building in a bid to escape being defiled by his master in Awka on Thursday.
It was gathered that the suspect had contracted the girl less than one week to help him out with house chores as his family members were based in Abuja.
The girl is currently in the hospital receiving treatment as she sustained fractures on her legs, after jumping down from the building.
The state police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed the arrest to our correspondent, said the suspect had been transferred to the State CID on the directive of the commissioner of police.
Ikenga said, “Yes, the suspect is in our custody, his name is Boniface Onyekwere, ‘m’ aged 56yrs old, of No 6, Melock Street Ifite Awka, an evangelist.
“The case also has been transferred to to State CID on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng. Investigation is still ongoing please.”
In a related development, the state police command also arrested 32 suspected criminals for various offences ranging from armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearm, extortion and attempted rape.
In the process, the police recovered one locally made beretta pistol, one magnum pump action and ammunition.
Addressing journalists in Awka, on Sunday, Echeng Echeng, said the command had vowed to stamp out violent crimes such as extortion and other forms of criminality in the state.
Echeng said the police operatives, acting on a credible information, at about 4:30am on 30/3/2022, arrested a 43-year-old Ozo Olie Ifeanyi, at his residence in Odoje village, Onitsha and recovered one locally fabricated single barrel pistol and one live ammunition concealed in a bag.
He added that the suspect, who has confessed to be a member of the Black Axe Cult Group, specialises in robbing unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables, had already made useful statement that will lead to the arrest of other members of their criminal gang.
He said another suspect, one Ifeanyi Nwobu 49years a native of Enuorji Village, Enugu Ukwu at about 9pm on 30/3/2022 was also arrested and recovered one magnum pump action gun was also recovered, adding that the suspect has made useful statement that could unravel the source of the arm.
The CP also paraded 30 other suspects which include Ifeatu Onuebube ‘M’ aged 19years, Akpa Ikechukwu ‘M’ aged 44years, Linus Ekene ‘M’ aged 23years, Nwede Chinedu ‘M’ aged 25years, Nwigwe Osinachi ‘M’ aged 28years, Nas Emeka ‘M’ aged 38years, Uduak Linus ‘M’ aged 30years, Obi Onyebuchi ‘M’ 32years, Ayo Omah ‘M’ aged 29years, Igwe Chukwuebuka ‘M’ 22years, Nweke Abuchi ‘M’ 16years, Anthony Chidi ‘M’ 18years.
Others are Onyebuchi Ndubuisi ‘M’ 28years, Onyekwelu Ifechukwu ‘M’ 20years, Nwagha Nzube ‘M’ 17years, Anamabu Somto ‘M’ aged 17years, Duru Chigozie ‘M’ aged 19years, Onwuakpa Chukwudi ‘M’ aged 20years, Nworie Chimaram ‘M’ aged 19years, Orji Onyebuchi ‘M’ aged 34years, Nnamani Chukwuebuka ‘M’ aged 17years, Ifeanyi Chinedu ‘M’ aged 17years, Igwe Ifeanyi ‘M’ aged 18years, Eze Andrew ‘M’ aged 19years Nwafor Bernard ‘M’ aged 20years, Ifeanyi Junior ‘M’ aged 17years, Nweze Obinna ‘M’ aged 22years, Amadi Obinna ‘M’ aged 21years, Emmanuel Charles ‘M’ aged 18years, Agala Timothy ‘M’ aged 20years.
He said they were apprehended for flouting the state government’s ban on touting, extortion and illegal revenue collection.
“They were arrested on 6/4/2022 along Tarzan Junction, Owerri road, Upper Iweka road, Ochanja Junction, Awada road, Head Bridge, Kara Junction, Atani road, respectively in Onitsha while touting and extorting money from motorists and other members of the public,” he added.
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