By Dan Etokidem
A 48 year old PDP councillorship aspirant, Uyo-obong Tommy Udo (Aka
Jaguar), from Ukana Odoro Ikot village in Odoro Ikot Ward 1, Essien Udim
LGA of Akwa Ibom State is on the run for allegedly raping a 10 year old
girl, Mercy Sunday Akpan, who hails from neighbouring Nto Akpa Oko
village.
The suspect allegedly lured his victim to his room on
May 1st, 2017, under the pretext of wanting to buy fofo which the girl
was selling and raped the girl for more than two hours leading to severe
bleeding.
The suspect investigation reveals had been trailing
his victim to know how the child go around the village to sell fofo for
the mother .
"He (Jaguar) asked the child to take the fofo into his
house and drop it on the table and then come and collect the money. The
child went in to drop it not knowing his evil plan".
"He suddenly
jumped inside the room, grabbed the child, tore her cloths and raped
her. The poor girl was too weak to fight back and was only crying and
pleading with him not to rape her.
Most painful and tragic is the fact
that this man who is notorious for doing the dirty jobs for politicians
in Odoro Ikot is a known HIV positive carrier for more than ten years
now", said a community woman leader who pleaded anonymity.
Investigation reveals that soon after he committed the crime, Mr Udo
fled the village following the outrage and condemnation that followed.
Though the matter was reported to the Essien Udim Divisional Police,
nothing has been done to apprehend the suspect, fuelling suspicion that
majority of the elites have undermined the police from investigating and
arresting the suspect.
Speaking to our reporter, the victims
mother, Mrs Ijeoma Sunday Sandy pleaded with the government to come to
her aid and ensure that her daughter gets justice.
She lamented that the
money she makes from her fofo business is not enough to take care of
her family or pay the hospital bill of her daughter let alone Institute
legal action against the suspect and regretted that more than a month
after the incidence, neither the Police or the Village Head has done
anything to ensure that the suspect is arrested and brought to justice.
She admitted that the police asked her to call them anytime she sees
the suspect to describe the suspects dress code and location to enable
the police effect arrest.
Also speaking, the father, Mr Sunday
Sandy Akpan said it was agonizing that her little daughter can be so
inhumanly abused and the suspect is getting protection from the
political and traditional elites of the community because he is their
preferred councillorship aspirant who has their support and called on
the Human Rights community to step in and ensure justice for his
daughter.
The matter has been reported at the Child Welfare
Directorate of the Ministry of Women Affairs in Ikot Ekpene who asked
the parent to come on Monday next week and file the case officially to
enable the government take up the matter in court.
But the
victims parents lamented that they can't even afford the #3500.00 fee
needed to register the case as directed as they spent all the had to
give their daughter preliminary first aid treatment after the incidence.
Efforts to get the reaction of the village head of Nto Akpa
Oko, Chief Sunday Nathaniel was unsuccessful but a source close to the
village head said the crime was reported to the police who are
investigating the matter and denied that the suspect is being protected
from prosecution by the village head.
(Contacts)
08039308530, Victim father's number
08135841246, Victim mother's number
08181313788, The rapists number
08022823144, Police IPO's number
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