A sixteen- year-old girl (names withheld) was allegedly gang-raped by 16 adults, after taking some alcoholic drink laced with unknown substance at a party in Ogbunnabali area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This was as three of the 16 suspected rapists, Tambari Dumlesi (40), Ikechukwu Akah (22) and Friday Esau (27) had been arrested, while the remaining 13 suspects are still at large.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, made the disclosure while parading 16 suspected criminals, including two females, before newsmen during a press briefing at the state police command on Thursday.
The frail looking girl, who could neither sit nor stand because of the damage done to her private part, was in serious pains as she appeared before newsmen.
“On 23/06/14 at 1800 hours, a complaint was made by a 16-year-old victim of rape. The victim reported that she attended a party at Ogbuga Street in Ogbunnabali, Port Harcourt, organised by one Tina.
“While at the party, she was given a glass of hot drink by Tambari Dumlesi. That was the last memory she had before she was raped by 16 different men. She woke up to find herself in torn boxers and with swollen private parts,” Ogunsakin said.
He also said the victim had since been taken to the Police Clinic for check up and treatment, adding that the apprehended three rape suspects would remain in police custody while investigation lasts.
The police commissioner further disclosed that a total number of 24 vehicles had so far been recovered by the state Special Anti Robbery Squad, while a three-man armed robbery, car theft and car-snatching gang had been arrested.
He gave the names of the suspects to include Andrew Atusi (29), Onyekachi Ebeh (25) and Endurance Emmanuel (25), adding that they were arrested on March 10, 2014.
According to Ogunsakin, the operations of the suspects included breaking into parked cars in the middle of the night, snatching vehicles at gunpoint and robbing their victims of valuable possessions.
“The gang was discovered while trying to sell one of its stolen cars, a Pathfinder jeep. After preliminary investigations were carried out by the police, the suspects were transferred to SARS, Port Harcourt where further investigations were carried out.
“The investigations revealed that the gang had an organised operational circle that covers Rivers, Edo, Imo and Lagos states, with their base in Port Harcourt.
“One of them, the kingpin, Abdrew Atusi, also poses as a Military Captain; he has a fake military ID card and uniform. So far, the Special Anti Robbery Squad has recovered 24 vehicles and is recovering more as investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
Source: Tribune
