The Police in Rivers State have apprehended a 39-year-old man for allegedly raping his lover’s nine-year-old niece for a period of four years in Ada George axis of Port Harcourt, the State capital.
The suspect identified as Preye was arrested on Sunday, for taking carnal knowledge of the minor repeatedly.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, an uncle to the victim, Mr. Boma Totty, said the suspect had in December 2019 come to the house of his female lover but met her absence.
Totty said the suspect took advantage of the situation and allegedly defiled the lover’s niece who was 9-year-old at the time.
Recounting the incident, he said: “There was a certain day he came to the house in December 2019 and it was only the little niece that was at home.
“So he grabbed her and had sex with her severally. She was nine years old then. Thereafter he took her to the boot of his car and brought out some fetish stuff.
“He brought out calabash, salt, pepper, and powder and told her to swear that if she ever reveals what was happening that she and everybody in her family will die.”
Totty said the girl cooperated with the suspect out of fear by accepting to take the oath.
“Sometimes she will open the door for him to come in and they will have sex. On one of those days, she normally comes to the house with expensive things like jewelry and a necklace.
“So we started asking her where she was getting those things. She refused to say anything. So my elder sister now went to the school to find out some things.
“She later discovered that the girl has been going to school with money, sometimes N5, 000, N6, 000 and buying things for people.
“That Friday as she came back from school, we started interrogating her and after much petting, she now opened up that it was uncle Preye that has been molesting her.
“So, yesterday (Sunday) evening, my sister now sent him (Preye) a text that she should come and pay her money or she will report him to his family.
“So he came to negotiate the money with her. So when he came we held him and handed him over to the police.
“Right now the case is handled by the Ozuoba police station. All we want is for justice to prevail,” he stated.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairperson of Legal Care Advocacy Foundation, Barr. Janes James called on the police to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The police that is having him in custody should carry out every necessary investigation and if found culpable, let him be made to face the law.
“We are ready and willing to go all out to see the end of this matter,” she said.
