A 28-year-old trader apprentice identified as Ugochukwu Ernest who resides in Okpananam community has been arrested on Saturday, December 201, 2014 by the police in Asaba, Delta State, at the popular Ogbogonogo market for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.
The suspect who hails from Ngwo in Enugu state allegedly forcefully had sexual intercourse with the victim inside his master’s shop after she declined all his efforts to woo her for a relationship.
According to Leadership Newspaper, Ernest has allegedly been involved in similar rape case in his home town after several efforts to write school certificate hit the rock and eventually went into business.
Confirming the arrest, the Delta state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, said the suspect has been arrested and disclosed that the victim had approached the suspect for body cream after their usual love jokes and was allegedly lured into his master’s inner store, knowing that the master had travelled to Onitsha to purchase some goods for the shop.
After luring her to the shop, the suspect reportedly tore her clothes before forcefully having sexual intercourse with the victim who attracted the attention of people nearby with her screams for help.
During interrogation, the victim revealed how the suspect had torn her pants in his bid to forcefully penetrate her which made her cry out for help and consequently attracted the attention of passers-by and co-traders to the scene.
The suspect however, claimed he never committed the act and is currently in police custody for further investigation after which he will be charged to court if found guilty.
