The Police in Benue State have arrested a man, Ali Usman, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in his Wadata neighborhood of Makurdi metropolis in Benue State.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Catherine Anene, told our correspondent in Makurdi on Wednesday that the matter was reported and the suspect is now in the command’s custody.
“Yes it was reported. Suspect in custody. Investigation in progress,” Anene said.
Daily Trust gathered that Usman had forcefully gained carnal knowledge of the girl after deceiving her that he wanted to buy a local delicacy known as ‘Awara’ which the victim sold in front of her parent’s house.
It was also learnt that the victim, not suspecting any foul play because they were neighbours, had heeded the call by Usman on the rainy evening three days ago to bring the delicacy to his door post.
A humanitarian activist, Ukan Kurugh, who later assisted the parents of the victim to seek medical help for her, told our correspondent by telephone that the girl was discharged from the police clinic on Wednesday.
Kurugh explained that Usman had asked his victim to bring the delicacy into his room for patronage and that the girl had brought it close to the door but in the process of handing over the food, the young man dragged her by her hijab, covered her face, mouth and prevented her screams from attracting people in the neighborhood.
“He (Usman) was so brutal.
“Infact, the scene of incident was better imagined than seen.
“She lost so much blood in the process and was so weak, but she didn’t stop making efforts at screaming even with her mouth gagged.
“Due to the fact that it was raining, her screams couldn’t be easily heard.
“But with her persistency, the cries finally got to the neighbours and on breaking in, they met her almost lifeless.
“She was rushed to the hospital and it was discovered she had lost so much blood.
“Her PCV was just about 19 percent,” Kurugh narrated.
