A middle-aged man has been arrested for allegedly raping his daughter and fingering others in Abacha town, Idemili North council area of Anambra State.
The suspect, Arinze Obiwenite was also accused of defiling other daughters
Confirming the incident, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, through her Media Aide Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, said the suspect was arrested during a raid of the community following tip off from a whistle blower, while the victim had been rescued.
She said the commissioner assured them of justice and a conducive environment for growth and proper care, after a physical examination of their condition was carried out.
According to Ikeanyionwu, the commissioner who visited the suspect’s compound, discovered he used diabolic means to run a church known as “Holy Trinity Healing Ministry” where certain fetish items were discovered.
She listed some of the discovered items to include paper where he listed down names of those he had killed and those he would kill, a hollow grave behind his compound where he admitted he stayed to make incantations with some native medicines.
“The suspect was made to destroy the items in the presence of the villagers, as well as break the oath binding him and his three wives during the period of their marriages.
“While the suspect denied the allegations, he was however quick to ask the traditional ruler to forgive him and assist him to resolve the issue without going to court, which the monarch blatantly refused.
“The suspect also confessed marrying eleven wives but not living with any of them, while some of his children revealed they left home over their fathers attitude,” she said.
According to Ikeanyionwu, the commissioner had earlier visited Traditional Ruler of Abacha, Igwe Nwabunwanne Godwin Odiegwu where the suspect presented himself as a Christian who finds solutions to people’s problems.
She said the monarch explained that the suspect had accused some young boys in the community of raping the daughter.
“He was summoned to the palace on several occasions but failed to honor the royal invitation which made the youths to storm his residence but were utterly disappointed at what they saw at his house.
“They discovered that he locked up his children, including the 12 year old daughter he alleged some youths in the community had raped.
“When questioned, the daughter revealed that the father locked them up in the room for five years where he severally had carnal knowledge of her while he fingers the younger ones.”
According to the Commissioner’s aide, Traditional prime minister of the community, Chief Paul Omofia said the youths had attempted to take laws into their hands by burning the man alive but for the the traditional ruler’s intervention.
He also noted that the ugly incident happened few weeks after their Ofala festival where they called on the gods of the land to expose any evil doer in the community.
Meanwhile, the suspect has been transferred to state criminal investigative department in Awka and would soon be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka while the victim has been taken to the hospital for medical examination and possible treatment.
