A middle-aged man, Louis Akpojotor Mevoweoyo who claims to be a pastor from Ughelli North LGA, Delta and residing in Ibiono Ibom, has been arrested for defiling his 12-year-old daughter (name withheld).

The self-acclaimed pastor, who refused to mention the name of his Church during press interview, laid the blame on the devil while being paraded along with other crime suspects by the police at the State Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Monday.

Investigations by the command, according to the Command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Timfon John, reveal that the suspect had been sexually assaulting the victim since she was 12 years old, with the latest incident occurring in December 2024.

The suspect admitted that he first had carnal knowledge of the daughter two years ago, when she was just 12 years old, saying that last December?s episode was the third time when the victim turned 14 years and personally reported the issue to the police which led to his arrest.

?I don?t know what came over me. I just believe it is the handy work of the devil. My wife, her mother is still with me. I am a pastor. I own a Church. It is the work of the devil but I have repented,? the suspect stated.

The suspect will face appropriate prosecution, according to the PPRO.

Also, on credible intelligence, operatives of the command have arrested one Daniel Effiong Umoh aka Akaka ?m?, aged 32, of Abak Itenghe, Abak LGA, for defiling a girl (name withheld).

According to the report, the suspect, armed with a machete, attacked and dragged the victim into the bush, where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

?Investigations revealed a history of sexual assault by the suspect on other teenage girls within the vicinity; he will not escape the full weight of the law?.

Also, during a joint operation on 17/01/2025, at about 6:30 PM, operatives of the command arrested one Umoh Ubong Udoh ?m?, a physically challenged person of Ifa Ikot Idang, Uyo LGA. With some quantity of Substances suspected to be Indian hemp selling to criminals in Ifa area.

?No one will ever imagined a physically challenged person will be so criminally minded to engage in this unwholesome act. Investigations is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court soon,? the report said..

Operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence on 14/01/2025, at about 0150hrs, arrested one Roseline Dennis ?f? and one Sunday Udo Ekong ?m?, both of Ikwen village in Obot Akara LGA.

The suspects abducted two children (names withheld), aged 4 and 2 years, both pupils of St. Joseph Catholic School, Ikot Ofon Ikono. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects planned to transport the victims to Umuahia, Abia, to sell them.

?Thankfully, the victims were rescued and reunited with their families. The suspects will face prosecution?.

In a related development, another set of suspected child traffickers from Abia by names Okwondu Nkpurunna ?f?, Vivian Izima Chamdin ?f?, Okozie Amarachi ?f?, and Christina Emmanuel Onyechi ?f?. These suspects were caught trafficking two children, aged 11 and 12 years, from Ikot Edibom Village, Nsit Ubium LGA, and Mkpatak Village, Essien Udim LGA, respectively.

According to the PPRO, the victims were rescued unhurt in Abia State and will soon be reunited with their families while the suspects will be charged in court accordingly. (Nigerian Tribune)

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