41-year-old man in Police net over rape

Eziama Police Division, Aba, Abia State has arrested a 41-year-old man, Stephen Akunewu, for allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl in Aba.

Akunewu, a barbing salon operator at No. 14 Uzoigwe Extension, off Osusu Road, Aba, was alleged to have used biscuits and sweets to lure the innocent minor who is a niece to his neighbour, into his trap and took advantage of her.

It was learned that a medical examination carried out on the minor showed that she was abused by the suspect as her private part was reddish and bruised.

Vanguard gathered that the minor’s guardian, identified as Mrs. Eunice, who suspected that her niece had been defiled, reported the matter to the police, while the victim fled his residence to evade police arrest.

Luck, however, ran out on the suspect as he was later arrested when he sneaked into his residence without knowing that police laid in wait for him.

A resident of the area told Vanguard that the suspect had in 2012, also lured and raped a 2-year-old daughter of his neighbour, but the family was said to have resolved not to report the matter to the police.

When contacted, spokesman of Abia State police command, DSP Ezekiel Udeviotu, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect would be arraigned as soon as police concluded investigation.