From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
In apparent reaction to the wide condemnation that trailed the torture and indecent assault on a minor, Uzoamaka Chukwu,14, by some men in Ebonyi State, the state Police Command yesterday paraded six suspects, including a serving Coordinator of Ohazara Council Development Centre, Mr. Odii Ogbonnaya, his younger brother and three serving policemen.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters, Abakaliki, the Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, said the arrest of the suspects was informed by the information available to the police that they allegedly tortured and indecently assaulted Uzoamaka by stripping her before flogging her in Uburu community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
The police Commissioner said the three policemen serving in the command were also indicted in the incident. He said the affected police officers have been arrested and are currently undergoing police disciplinary procedures to enable their prosecution.
She confirmed that, Uzoamaka had been reached and had made her painful statements on how she was stripped, flogged and had her painful torture recorded in video camera which was later uploaded in the internet which went viral.
“The victim has just been able to make her painful statement and the case is being deliberately investigated to ensure that justice is done in this scandalous incident”
Also paraded were suspected notorious child trafficking and armed robbery/kidnapping syndicates. Mrs. Ibekwe said the notorious syndicate who specialised in child stealing and trafficking came to Uburu in a Toyota Camry car with registration number, BEN-173AU to perpetrate their evil act.
She said one Esther Agbowo from Nkalagu in Ishielu Council area of the state reported that she was lured with her two children to Delta state by one Ekene, who claimed to be a pastor in the guise of marriage after introduction rites to her people and after they had taken her to Asaba, the woman was abandoned while her two children were taken away by the suspects to unknown place.
which led to the arrest of 9 suspects.
The police boss said the command made a breakthrough on August 4, when it rescued two female passengers abducted by an armed robbery and kidnap gang that attacked a commercial bus along Ebuwanna in Afikpo South Local Government area of the state and robbed passengers their belongings before abducting the two female passengers.
