By Umudide Ogheneyole-Alvin
A 29-year-old man simply identified as Godspower has been remanded at the Warri Correctional Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service formerly known as Okere Prison for allegedly raping three underage girls at Afiesere community in Ughelli, Delta State.
The suspect who was arrested by policemen from Ughelli ‘B’ Division, Agbarha, was alleged to have lured the three girls who are between the ages of 12, 11 , and six and thereafter raped them.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect was apprehended on the May 10th, 2020 by Afiesere community leaders who then called in the police to take him into custody.
It was learned that trouble started when one of the victims reportedly fell ill after complaining of lower abdomen pains, and general discomfort.
Mother of one of the victims (name withheld), who narrated the incident to our correspondent, said she interrogated her daughter after she observed irregular health changes in her daughter and blood stains in her underwear.
According to her, “it became obvious when I discovered that my daughter was having discharge from her private part. It didn’t end there, I became so worried when maggot equally came out from the daughters private part.
“It was at that point I became convinced that something has gone wrong with my daughter and became aggressive with my daughter who had no choice but to tell me the truth about what actually happen. That she and her other two friends (name withheld) were raped and molested by Mr. Godspower, our neighbour.”
Irked by the act, father of sick victim, identified simply as Mr Steven, upon hearing from her daughter quickly invited Afiesere community leadership to arrest Godspower and was later handed over to the police.
ALSO READ: Why NDDC Headquarters Was Shut Down After Death Of Executive Director Of Finance
Narrating their ordeal, one of the victims, said they had gone to the suspect’s apartment who is a neighbor to borrow lighter to enable put on light in their own home following power outage in the community on that fateful day.
The raped victim said after collecting the lighter to put on the light they returned to their own apartment but few minutes later the suspect visited them to invite them to his house for free lesson. The girl said they decided to follow him for the free lesson class since they have been out of school for weeks as result of the COVID-19 lockdown.
“On that fateful day, I went to visit my friends who live just at the back of our compound. Their parents were not around and there was no sign they would be returning soon. Since it was getting late and there was power outage we decided to put on candle light, and because there was no lighter around the house one of us decided to borrow from Godspower who stays in the next room. Few minutes later, my friend who went for the lighter returned with it and they were able to put on the candle light.
“While we were all inside at about 8pm they had someone knocking on the door only for them to open, it was Godspower, standing firm at the door. He told us to come with him to his room that since there was lockdown and schools had not been in section he wants to teach us and that he will equally pay us N500 each.
“We followed him to his room, while they were there his closed the door from inside and later he started touching us. He told us he will kill us if we tell anyone about what about happened. He took his time to rape all three of us. We screamed but nobody came to help us.”
However, a medical report from Central Hospital, Ughelli, obtained by our correspondent confirmed that one of the victims was asexually violated.
Following the medical report, the police charged Mr Godspower before a Chief Magistrate Court at Agbarha- Otor in Ughelli North LGA with case file number: MA/35C/2020 for unlawfully having carnal knowledge of the three girls.
The suspect pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him.
The court in its ruling ordered the accused to be remanded at Okere Prison in Warri pending when the case file will be sent to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
