7 boys gang-rape girl, 15, in Rivers

Posted by admin Headlines, Rivers, State News Thursday, April 12th, 2012

A 15-year-old girl is lying critically ill in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt after she was allegedly gang-raped. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in Rumuodumaya in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Already, no fewer than seven boys said to be in their early 20s have been rounded up by the Police in connection with the incident.
It was gathered that the girl (name withheld) had gone to the nearby Rumuokoro market to make some purchases in the evening of the fateful day.

On her way home, she was allegedly abducted by some boys and taken to their hideout located inside the Rumuokoro slaughter area where she was raped. Daily Sun revealed that when the girl did not return that night, her parents raised alarm and reported her sudden disappearance to the police. Thereafter, a search party was organized and the girl was found unconscious at the Slaughter area said to be a notorious den for hemp smokers and criminals.

It was in the course of preliminary investigation after she was revived that the suspects were rounded up with the help of some community boys and taken to the Rumuodumaya Police Station. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mr. Benjamin Ugwuegbulam (DSP) confirmed the incident.

He told Daily Sun that “some arrests have been made” and investigation is in progress. Reacting to the incident, the Director of a Non-Governmental Organization, Human Rights, Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF), Comrade Justine Ijeomah decried the rising cases of rape in the society.

Comrade Ijeomah whose organization has been handling many rape cases involving under-aged girls called for stiffer penalties for proven offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

-Sunwp_posts