By Desire Emmanuel
The Enugu State Police Command, through the operatives of the Nsukka Urban Division, with the support of Neighbourhood Watch Group, has arrested a man, Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu, aged 51 years, over the death of his maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, aged 19, who was living with him and who accused him of raping her repeatedly.
The man, said to be a member of the Neighbourhood Security Watch Group, committed the crime at a pharmacy in Nsukka, where he was arrested.
It was gathered that the lady had earlier reported a case of rape, sexual abuse, abduction, and threat to life against the man at the Umabor Division of the command.
She told police officers that she had been living with the man since 2019, at the age of age 13 after the death of his wife, and that he had restricted her contacts with family and friends and subjected her to sexual abuse.
After attempting to escape to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state, the man was said to have threatened her with a firearm, forcing her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka Local Government Area, where she was locked up in a room.
She later escaped using a spare key and reported the incident to the police, who issued her a medical report form for examination. The police were said to have invited the man and other family members to the station, where he allegedly confessed, sought forgiveness, and promised to return her property.
The family, citing personal ties, chose not to prosecute the case but opted for spiritual cleansing due to the incestuous and abominable act against the girl.
Tragically, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the man reportedly forced his way in, assaulted her and struck her head repeatedly on the floor, causing fatal injuries. The victim was taken to the hospital, where her death was confirmed by the doctor and her remains deposited in the mortuary. The man was rearrested and is in police custody.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID for more investigation and the man is expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
