Man in A'Ibom is arrested by police for raping a corps member

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 44 years old, Paul Edu, for allegedly raping a member of the National Youth Service Corps in the state.

At the command’s headquarters in Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday, State Commissioner of Police CP Waheed Ayilara revealed this to reporters.

He added that on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at around 3:15 p.m., in Ukana Iba village, Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state, the suspect—a son of the landlord to a NYSC member—was taken into custody after directing her to his residence, where he had intimate knowledge of her.

He said, “On 20/7/2024 at about 3:15 pm, a National Youth Service Corps member residing at Ukana Iba village in Essien Udim reported that at about 3:00 am one Paul Samuel Edu 44yrs (her landlord’s son) came knocking at her door.

“That on opening the door, the said Paul brandished her with a machete and directed her to follow him to his room for a talk or else he would harm her.

“On reaching the suspect’s room, he bolted the door, tore her clothes and had carnal knowledge without her consent. The suspect was arrested, and one machete and a slaughter knife were recovered from him. The investigation is ongoing.”

The CP also disclosed further achievements that the command had documented during the period under review, such as the recovery of firearms and the apprehension of a possible kidnapper, as well as the arrest of suspects for vandalism, an armed robbery syndicate, and suspects in child trafficking.

According to him, the command also discovered an armory in a private mortuary in Ekeya, in the state’s Okobo local government area. He went on to say that after getting information about the arrest of a kidnapping syndicate, command agents raided the mortuary.

The Commissioner claimed that a syndicate headed by a wanted kidnapper named Ubong Effiong Archibong, popularly known as “Condiment,” was in charge of kidnapping and murdering multiple people in the state.

“Operatives of the Command through credible information and a painstaking investigation recovered firearms and ammunition used by a notorious kidnapping syndicate led by a wanted kidnapper, one Ubong Effiong Archibong, a.k.a Condiment.

“The kidnapping syndicate is responsible for the kidnapping and killing of several persons. The said firearms were recovered at a private mortuary being used as the armoury at Ekeya, Okobo L.G.A.

“The firearms are Two (2) AK-47 Rifles, Two (2) G3 Rifles, One (1) Double Barrel Rifle, One (1) Single Barrel Rifle, Five (5) Magazines and Seven (7) Live Ammunition.”