A suspect identified simply as Goodnews, who was arrested over the alleged defilement of a 16-year-old girl in Rupokwu community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, has escaped from police custody while investigation into the case was ongoing.
The case was being handled by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the suspect escaped during a visit to the scene of the alleged crime as part of standard investigative procedures.
Sources said the suspect was initially arrested by operatives at Special Area Rumudomaya before being transferred to the State CID in Port Harcourt last week for further investigation.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the father of the alleged victim, identified as Prince, narrated how the suspect reportedly escaped during the visit to their compound where the alleged incident occurred.
According to him, the suspect, who was not handcuffed by the investigating police officer, was struggling to open the padlock securing his apartment.
Prince said he then suggested that the officers use a hammer to break the padlock and subsequently excused himself to his downstairs apartment to get one.
He said by the time he returned with the hammer, he saw the investigating officer coming downstairs from the suspect’s apartment, which was located upstairs, only to be informed that the suspect had fled.
“He ran towards the direction the IPO claimed the suspect took, but he did not see him,” Prince said.
Reacting to the development, lawyer and Executive Director of Lawyers Watch Justice International Initiative, Gbenga Oladapo, described the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.
“It is extremely ridiculous that the Police would come out to say that. This is not just negligence, it is a betrayal of the victim, her family and every Nigerian child who deserves protection under the law.
“The Police should do everything in their power to declare a manhunt to re-arrest this man and make sure he faces the law in record time.
“They would be deemed to have failed the public and denied the victim justice if the suspect is not re-arrested,” he said.
When contacted, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the suspect’s escape but assured that efforts were underway to apprehend him.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said one of the officers involved in the incident was already being queried over the escape.
“Yes, I’m aware that he escaped and one of the policemen is being queried with respect to the escape.
“However, an order has been given for his re-arrest and we shall make it known to the press when he is re-arrested,” she stated.
