Delta police arrest retired fire officer for sexually abusing 12-year-old niece

Delta State Police Command has arrested a retired Fire service officer, Okonjie Awulo, for allegedly sexually abusing his 12-year- old niece, name withheld, in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Council of the state.

The Guardian learnt that Awulo was arrested on December 11, 2022, following a complain lodged by the girl’s father, Mr. Oyenka Chukwuka.

It was further learnt that the suspect offered the girl N500 to seal her mouth. But when she could no longer concealed it, she ran away.

Narrating the ugly incident, the victim’s grandmother, Mrs. Felicia Utulu said the suspect forcefully dragged the girl into his room and sexually abused her to the extent that blood was dripping down her thigh.

Mrs. Utulu explained that she discovered that her grand daughter’s movement and behaviour completely changed, and she therefore subjected the girl to series of questions, but she did not open up.

She said she insisted to know why her grand daughter was behaving funny but instead of saying something, she ran to her father, and opened up to him how she was sexually abused by the suspect, who threatened to kill her if she ever tells anyone.

The grandmother said the girl’s father reported the matter to the Police at Ogwashi-Uku, but lamented that the suspect was granted bail after the girl’s father had collected N40,000 from him, despite her insistence that he should be prosecuted.

The girl’s father, Oyenka Chukwuka, said he didn’t collect money from the suspect, and that he was in Owerri, Imo State, when the Police granted the suspect bail.

He said the N40,000 paid by the suspect’s family was part of the money spent at the hospital, where her daughter was treated, adding,

“we still need more money to treat her”.

Chukwuka said he was stunned when her daughter revealed that she was sexually abused by her mother’s brother. “Hearing it, I threatened to kill whoever was involved but was advised to report the matter to the Police”.

And, following the advice, Mr. Chukwuka said he quickly went to Police Area Command, Ogwashi-Uku and formally lodged the report.

Contacted, spokesperson for the stare Police Command, Bright Edafe, said the case was not reported to the Police.