Police arrest, detain officer over defilement of girl in Onitsha

The police command in Anambra State has confirmed the arrest of a police officer over alleged abduction and defilement of a 14-year-old girl in Onitsha, Anambra State. The suspect, Corporal Garba Barau, was last week, said to have allegedly abducted and severally defiled the girl in Okpoko area of the commercial city. Barau, posted on […]

The police command in Anambra State has confirmed the arrest of a police officer over alleged abduction and defilement of a 14-year-old girl in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The suspect, Corporal Garba Barau, was last week, said to have allegedly abducted and severally defiled the girl in Okpoko area of the commercial city. Barau, posted on a special assignment to the state from Sokoto under Mopol 7, Sokoto, was said to have kept the victim under his custody where she was severally defiled for a period of six days.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Garba, said the erring policeman was facing internal disciplinary procedures and would be arraigned before the appropriate court as soon as the criminal investigations against him were concluded.

According to the police commissioner, the suspect admitted meeting the girl and luring her to his apartment where he gave her shelter, but denied having carnal knowledge of her.

“The command is yet to obtain the medical report from the hospital. But the on-going investigation will detect whether the victim was truly defiled or not,” he said.

Describing the incident as an isolated case which did not reflect the core values and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force, Umar assured that the command would ensure that justice was done in the matter.

“The command will ensure that justice will not only be done but seen to have been done. Nobody found guilty will be spared regardless of his position,” he assured.