The Delta state police command has arrested a retired fire service officer in the State, Mr Okonjie Awulo, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Awulo, said to be in his late 60’s was arrested following a complaint lodged by the victim’s father, Mr Oyenka Chukwuka. He was granted bail almost immediately.
It was gathered that the suspect offered the teenager N500 to seal her mouth, but she opened up as she couldn’t bear the pain.
Narrating what happened, the victim’s grandmother, Mrs Felicia Utulu, said Awulo forcefully dragged the girl into his room and raped her to the extent that blood was sluicing down on her body.
She said;
“I discovered my granddaughter’s movement and behaviour had changed completely and I, therefore, subjected her to questions.
“I insisted to know why my granddaughter was behaving funny but instead of saying something, she ran to her father, and opened up to him about how she was sexually abused by my brother who threatened to kill her if she ever tells anyone.”
According to the grandmother, the girl’s father reported the matter to the police at Ogwashi-Uku, but lamented the manner the suspect was granted bail after the victim’s father had collected N40,000 from him.
However the victim’s father, Mr Oyenka Chukwuka denied collecting money from the suspect.
He claimed he was in Owerri when Awulo was granted bail.
“The N40,000 Awulo paid to the family was part of the money spent at the hospital where my daughter is being treated, we still need more money to treat her.
“I was surprised when my daughter told me that she was raped by her mother’s brother.
“When she told me, I threatened to kill whoever was involved but was advised to report the matter to the Police which I did and quickly went to Police Area command, Ogwashi-Uku and formally lodged the report”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state DSP Bright Edafe disclosed that the case was not reported.
Edafe said; “I have called DPO Ogwashi-Uku division and the Ogwashi-Uku Area Commander they said the matter was not reported.”
