By OBINNA UNAEZE

The Anambra Police Command says that four male suspects, allegedly involved in separate cases of incest and defilement, are presently in its custody.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.

Ikenga stated that one of the cases involved a 46-year-old native of Oko, Orumba North LGA, who was being detained over alleged incest with his daughter, 20.

He disclosed that the suspect allegedly infested the girl with HIV.

He stated: “On April 23, a case of incest, involving a 20-year-old girl was transferred from Oko Police Station.

“The suspect (name withheld), allegedly engaged in sexual relations with his daughter, since she was 17.”

He explained that “the case was made public after the victim tested HIV positive during a hospital visit”.

He added that the suspect had made a confessional statement on the issue.

The PPRO also stated that on April 22, the state CID received a case of defilement of a 16-year-old girl from Ogbunike Police Division.

He explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, 26, a security personnel in an estate in the area, allegedly attacked the victim, who was reportedly on her way to a friend’s house in the estate.

According to Ikenga, the suspect allegedly dragged the victim into an uncompleted building in the estate, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

He added that the suspect had since made a confessional statement.

The police spokesman also stated that on April 23, the command received another case of defilement of an 11-year-old girl, transferred from Neni Police Division.

He explained that the male suspect, 36, allegedly lured the victim inside his barbing salon, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

“The police operatives have obtained a medical report for the court proceedings,” he stated.

The PPRO also stated that on April 21, another case of defilement was transferred from Central Police Station, Awka.

He explained that the case involved a 52-year-old, who allegedly took advantage of the mental condition of an 11-year-old girl, lured her to his house and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

He further stated that on April 28, a female suspect, allegedly subjected two children, Echetuna Ezenwanne, 6, and Chikaima Ezenwanne, 4, to severe physical abuse.

The suspect was alleged to have used a wire to flog and inflict injuries on the underaged children.

Ikenga stated that the suspect claimed to have adopted the children from a motherless babies home in Onitsha.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, as describing the cases as “heinous and unacceptable”, hence the suspects must face the law.

Orutugu reportedly assured the people that the command was committed to protecting vulnerable persons, especially children, and ensuring that offenders were brought to justice.

The PPRO stated that the police had concluded investigations into the various cases and that the five different suspects would be arraigned on Wednesday (today) before a Special Court, sitting in Awka. (NAN)