A 70-year-old Moses Okon of Ikot Eyo Street, Calabar, Cross River State, is now cooling his feet at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Police Headquarters, Calabar, over the rape of his best friend’s daughter, aged nine. It was gathered that Mr. Okon, popularly known as Oyibo, and the victim’s father, one Mr. David Ekong, have been friends for more than a decade.
It was learned that the victim (names withheld) had been living with Oyibo for some time with the approval of her father, who took custody of the victim after divorcing the mother.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the relationship between Oyibo and his friend turned sour when he discovered that his best friend had been sleeping with his nine years old daughter. The eyewitness added: “He has been doing it for long.
The girl told us that Oyibo has done it three times to her. She said the last time, he gave her N20 and begged her not to tell anyone before pulling off her pants, closing her mouth with his hands and raping her.” The suspect was earlier arrested by the State Housing Police Station and released, but after much pressure by Basic Rights Counsel, a child rights organisation, the matter is being handled directly by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ozi-Obeh Jimoh.
In a medical report, the victim was diagnosed to have been infected with Staphylococcus Aureus.
“Patient in painful distress, yielded few growth of Staphylococcus aureus after 24 hours, walking funny, vulva inflammation, signs of obvious bruising, presence of semen in private part, hymen is broken,” the medical report read in part. When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh, confirmed that they have arrested Okon and he will be charged to court today.
His words: “It is true. A case like that was reported to us and the medical examination and report has proved that there was defilement. The man will be charged to court tomorrow (today).”