From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A retired officer of Delta State Fire Service, identified as Awulo, has been accused of raping his 12-year-old niece in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.
The randy uncle was alleged to have dragged his victim into his room where he forcefully had canal knowledge of her and thereafter offered her N500.00 not to leak the illicit affair with a threat that if she do otherwise, he will kill her.
The victim’s grandmother, Mrs Felicia Utulu, soon noticed changes in the way the girl was walking and therefore summoned her for interrogation.
However, she did not open up before the grandmother, rather she went to her biological father, Oyeka Chukwuka, to narrate the ordeal she went through at the hands of the uncle.
Speaking, a furious Mr Chukwuka said he had threatened to kill the suspect but was “advised to report the matter to the police.”
Chukwuka said he went to the Area Command in Ogwashi-Uku to lodge the complaint, which led to the arrest of the suspect.
There appears, however, to be a twist in the tale, as the suspect was said to have been released after he paid N40,000.00 to the victim’s father.
Mrs Utulu, the victim’s grandmother, said she insisted that the suspect must be prosecuted, adding that she was surprised that he was released after offering Mr Chukwuka N40,000.00.
Mr Chukwuka said he did not collect a dime from the suspect and that he was in Owerri, Imo State when the police granted the suspect bail.
He said the N40,000 paid by the suspect’s family was part of the money spent at the hospital where his daughter was treated, adding: “we still need more money to treat her.”
Contacted in Asaba on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Bright Edafe, said his office was yet to receive such a report.