Metro

Rivers Policeman Arrested For Defiling 13-year-old Girl

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

A police officer simply identified as Emmanuel has been arrested and detained after he allegedly defiled a 13-year-old girl in his office at the Bori Area Command in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Emmanuel, attached to the Bori Area Command, was said to have been detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the State Police Command on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Narrating the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Saturday, the teenager’s aunty who gave her name as Love, said she sent the girl on an errand last Friday but was surprised that the girl did not return home that day, hence she started looking for her.

The teenager’s guardian explained that the girl, however, came back the next morning, Saturday, January 13, 2024, and when she interrogated her, the girl narrated how the police officer held her that evening and defiled her in his office at the Bori Area Command till dawn.

She stated, “When she came back around 8am the following day, I asked her where she was coming from and where she slept last night.

“She told me that one police officer with two stars at the Area Command held her in his office at the Area Command, Bori, and raped her till daybreak.

“That he (officer) threatened to shoot her if she shouted. So because of that, she kept quiet. So when she came back I checked her as a mother and saw that somebody had touched her.”

Love said she immediately reported the matter to the Bori Police Division, adding that the girl identified the errant cop before she was taken to the hospital by the Investigating Police Officer at the police division where the incident was reported.

She added, “They now took her to their (police) hospital. The doctor on duty confirmed that there was penetration.”

She confirmed that Emmanuel’s colleagues took him to the SCID in Port Harcourt where he is being detained, even as she demanded justice for the teenager.

“All I want is for this matter to be properly investigated because he (the policeman) is still denying. So I want justice to be served,” the girl’s distraught aunt said.

Meanwhile, a rights group, Rainbow Watch And Development Centre that has been following up on the case has called for an unbiased and thorough investigation into the incident.

Executive Director of the group, Michael Gbarale, in a statement made available to newsmen, described the development as unfortunate, saying the matter must not be swept under the carpet to serve as a deterrent to randy officers.

The statement read, “We commend the Commissioner of Police for the arrest of the officer who allegedly defiled a 13-year-old girl and transferred the case to the SCIID for proper investigation.

“We demand an unbiased and thorough investigation into the incident with a view to ensure that justice is served to all the parties concerned. We will closely monitor and follow the case to its logical conclusion.”

When contacted on Saturday evening, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and arrest of the police officer, saying that the investigation is still ongoing on the matter.

She stated, “The police officer denied that nothing of such happened, But Yes, I can confirm that he has been arrested and in custody. Investigation is ongoing to unravel what really happened and the appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken if he is found culpable.”
PUNCH

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 54 Suspected Traffickers, Seizes 1,506.57kg of Drugs In Edo

Published

5 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested 54 suspected drug traffickers with 1,506.57kg of various narcotic drugs.

The state commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the operational scorecard of the command in Benin City.

Ofoyeju said the seizure of the drugs and arrest of the suspects took place in the month of September.

He added that a total of 66,078,57kg of skunk cannabis were destroyed by the Command in the period under review.

The Commander, who said that the command recorded significant successes in its operations within the month, added that it was part of its concerted effort to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the state.

He gave the breakdown of the arrested suspects to include 43 males and 11 females.

He also added that during the operation six illicit plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares were destroyed.

Ofoyeju explained that the destroyed plantations were located at Ugbogui Forest, Ovia South West, Ataroro Forest, Owan West, Urohi Forest, Esan West, and Ogu Forest, Igueben Local Government Areas of the State with an estimated yield of 66,078.5715 kg of skunk cannabis.

“The command also intercepted 1,506.57kg of illicit drugs,” Mitchell stated while emphasising the command’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks operating within the state.

“The breakdown of the seized drugs is as follows: Cannabis Sativa 1,502. 26 Kg, psychotropic substances 4.27kg including tramadol 3.964kg, nitrazepam 0.087kg, Swinol 0.0445kg, Danabol (Molly) 0.1163kg, methamphetamine 0.0184 Kg, cocaine 0.028 Kg and heroin 0.014kg”, he said.

The NDLEA Commander in the state while expressing determination in the command’s campaign against drug trafficking, reiterated the importance of strategic operations in safeguarding communities and reducing drug demand.

He posited that the successs signified a critical step toward reclaiming the safety and health of citizens, as Edo State continues to grapple with the pressing issues of drug trafficking and abuse.

Metro

Army Officer Dies After Wife Allegedly Sets Him Ablaze In Akwa Ibom

Published

5 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him on fire during a domestic dispute in Akwa Ibom State.

The incident reportedly occurred on September 22, 2025, at the Wellington Bassey Barracks in Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of the state.

According to a report shared on X by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on Tuesday, the late officer, who served as a Regimental Medical Officer with the Army’s 6 Battalion, had a heated altercation with his wife, identified as Mrs. Samson Haruna, which escalated violently.

Sources cited by Makama alleged that during the argument, the woman doused her husband with petrol and set him ablaze.

Lt. Haruna was first treated at the military medical unit within the barracks before being transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where he later died from his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save him.

Military sources confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Stop Using Edo Money For Federal Roads, Residents Tell Okpebholo

Published

10 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Editor

Residents of Benin, the Edo State capital have urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to stop using money accruing to the state on federal government projects.

The residents, who frowned at the governor’s unrelenting efforts in fixing federal roads, lamented that most state-owned roads are in the state of disrepair.

According to the residents, roads in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) have failed and are not motorable, adding that several other state-owned roads have failed and are in need of urgent repairs.

An Activist and head of Talakawas Parliament, in Edo State, Kola Edokpaiyi, said it was ‘busy body’ that made Okpebholo to abandon state-owned roads that are crying for attention in favour of federal roads.

He said, “There are so many deplorable state roads in Edo State that are not motorable. We expect the Governor of Edo State to quickly give attention to them all before considering Federal Roads if the state is too rich.

“The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi has visited federal roads in Edo State about two times to ascertain how deplorable the roads are. He has already given the brief to Mr. President. We expect the Minister to swing into action based on the huge finance allocated by Federal Government to get the work done.

“I want to appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo to address the so many state roads that are bad.”

Also, a commercial driver, who plies between Ring Road and Ebvuotubu, Joseph Ikpigho, said he spent more money to fix his car due to bad roads.

Recall that Okpebholo has embarked on reconstruction of 23 kilometres of the Sapele Road axis of the East-West road.

He is also assisting the Federal Government to fix failed portions of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway.