By CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI — A 55-year-old man, Innocent Opara, from Amaudara, Avuvu, Ikeduru local council area of Imo State, is now cooling his heels in police custody for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl, Miss Chinyere Onyewuenyi, from Aboh Mbaise local government area.

Narrating the little girl’s ordeal when he paraded the suspect in Owerri, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Mr. Deji Adebanjo, said the girl was sent to fetch firewood in company of her friend in a nearby farm when the suspect took advantage of her.

“While in that place, Innocent Opara lured Chinyere into a nearby bush and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her in the full glare of her friend. It was further gathered that after the illicit act, the suspect gave Chinyere N100 and her friend N10 to cover his heinous crime”, the DCP recounted.

Adebanjo also said that when the girl started bleeding profusely, she reported her ordeal to her parents, who immediately made a formal complaint to the police.

“The suspect has been arrested and he confessed to the crime. He will soon appear in court to face the full weight of the laws of the land for his act,” the DCP promised.

Confirming the allegation during an interview with Vanguard, Opara blamed the devil for his damnable act, promising that he would not do it again.

In a similar development, Imo State Police Command has also arrested one of the most wanted criminals in the state, Prince Chibuzor Onuoha alias 10-10 from Obile, Ohaji.

The police described him as a notorious armed robber and kidnap kingpin alleged to have masterminded the kidnap of Rev. Dominic and Nze Nobleman from Asaa, Ohaji.

“He was arrested while driving a 604 Peugeot car with registration number CV 143 RSH. When the car was searched, one master key and some wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered,” the DCP said.