The Rivers State Police Command yesterday said efforts were on to arrest a police officer, Inspector Peter Ebah, who allegedly arrested and raped a 23-year-old lady at Saakpenwaa checkpoint in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State for not wearing a face mask.
The Guardian gathered that the lady was travelling from Bori to Eleme on Wednesday and their vehicle was stopped by the police at Tai checkpoint.
After thorough search, the lady was brought out from the vehicle and delayed till evening because she didn’t wear a nose mask.
It was learnt that the leader of the police officers on duty, one Peter Ebah, later took the victim at gunpoint in the night to a guesthouse where she was allegedly raped till daybreak.
She was brought out of the vehicle at about 6:30p.m. and held till 10:00p.m. on Wednesday. A source who does not want to be mentioned said: “The officers, instead of going to the station, diverted the lady to a guesthouse, where the leader held her and raped her till morning before letting her go.”
According to a text message she sent to a radio station based in Rivers State, the officers prevented her from communicating with anyone.
The text message from the lady sent before the alleged rape reads: “Dear, I am dying here. I have been taken to a guesthouse just because of face mask of N100. I can’t believe this is happening to me. He wants to sleep with me. I am dying. He didn’t let me answer any call. He threatened to seize my phone.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, said: “After hearing about this, we immediately invited the lady. After hearing from her, she made a written statement, and investigation has commenced.
“The matter is receiving adequate attention. The lady has just made her statement and efforts are on to unveil the identities of the officers alleged to have been involved in the act for necessary action. We appeal for calm to allow the law take its full course.”
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