By HENRY NNAM

The Police in Plateau on Friday paraded 24 persons suspected of rape, theft, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms and human parts, cult related activities, banditry, and many others.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Bassey Ewah, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Jos, explained that it waspart of the command’s commitment to ensuring accountability to members of the public.

Ewah said it was also a clear message to criminal elements that Plateau would not be a hideout for them.

“We are faced with an epidemic as it concerns rape and defilement.

“Between the time I arrived here in February and now, from my Police unit alone, we have had over 64 cases of defilement and rape, which tells you that we are facing some kind of epidemic,” he said.

The commisioner of Police said five of the suspects paraded would be charged with rape/unnatural offence, sexual harassment, intimidation, and defilement.

One of the suspects, an 18-year-old male, was allegedly caught defiling a one-year-old girl in Pankshin Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

According to the report, the suspect will send the victim’s older brother, who is her caregiver in the absence of the mother, on an errand and use the opportunity to defile the victim.

Ewah said a medical examination carried out on the victim revealed that the anus was enlarged and a small amount of semen was also discovered in that area, suggesting sexual assault on her.

The CP assured members of the public that the matter was being thoroughly investigated, and the suspect would be charged to court.

He affirmed the command’s commitment to reducing cases of rape, defilement, and assault in the state.

“I am happy to tell you that going further, with the support of all segments of society, peace is returning to the Plateau,” Ewah added. (NAN)

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