A lone gunman arrested by the police in a popular hotel in Awka at the weekend has been identified by a lady who said he raped her.

The lady also identified her phone among items found in possession of the gunman.

According to a press statement signed by Police spokesman in Anambra State Ikenga Tochukwu, a Superintendent of Police, following publication of pictureof the gunman a 24-year-old graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University came forward to allege that the suspect robbed and raped her at gunpoint at another hotel in Awka on July 11 2023.

According to the statement the lady stated that the suspect was among the criminals that abducted her when she boarded a tricycle along Ifite to Aroma Junction on 10/7/2023, took her to a hotel within the area, dispossess her of her personal belongings and raped her before she was allowed to go.

“The victim who looked traumatised identified her phone among the phones recovered from the suspect”, Ikenga said.

Ikenga also added in the statement that when the gunman was interrogated on the new allegation, he admitted robbing the suspect at gun pointbut denied the rape charge.

He also provided names of his two accomplices.

Ikenga said that two more pistols were recoveredfrom the suspect.

He said that when the management of yet another hotel where the gunman lodged saw the Police publication, it alerted the Police that the suspect lodged in one of the hotel rooms before his arrest at another hotel.

It was then that Police proceeded to the hotel and searched the room where he lodged only to discover two more Berreta Pistols among his personal effects.

Police also said information at its disposal revealed thatthe suspect is responsible for the murder of at least two persons in separate incidents in Awka in the last three months.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderemi Adeoye has ordered detectives to leave no stone unturned in their investigation in order to protect society and get justice for victims of the suspect’s alleged crimes.

Adeoye urged residents to report suspicious persons and unusual movement they may observe to the nearest Police Station or through the Command Emergency number 112 or call 07039194332 for prompt response.

The gunman is to be arraigned in court after investigation is concluded, the statement said. (Daily Independent)