The 40-year-old Eze was arrested at the weekend following the alarm raised by the mother of the victim after she complained of pains.
It was gathered that a Bayelsa- based Girl Child Rights advocacy group, Operation Rescue (OPER), intervened and filed a complaint at the Akenfa Police Division which led to the arrest of the suspect. The victim, a primary four pupil, according to the police, alleged that the man had canal knowledge of her several times and always gives her N100 for her to keep silence.
Speaking on behalf of Operation Rescue, Princess Egbe said the Officer in Charge of Family Welfare at the Akenfa Police assisted the group in conducting a medical test on the victim. Egbe expressed concern at the rising cases of girl child defilement in Bayelsa State. She said: “In the last three months, over 10 cases have been reported. Some others were not reported due to the non-availability of a special desk by the police in the state.”
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Operation Pulo Shield, Colonel Isa Ado, said four other suspects were also arrested during the weekend operation. He said: “As part of its effort to rid Niger Delta of sea pirates and militant activities, troops of Sector 2, Operation Pulo Shield, while on a cordon-andsearch operation in Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on April 9, 2016, encountered some gunmen close to the community suspected to be sea pirates.
“The pirates engaged the troops in a gun battle before they were overpowered by the superior fire power of the troops, leading to the death of one of the gunmen while others escaped with gunshot injuries.” Ado added that several weapons, including an AK47 rifle and two loaded magazines, were recovered from the pirates and that four suspects were arrested.
