One Bright Okutuoma has been apprehended for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl in Rivers State, the police in the oil rich southern state have said.
The incident happened around the Ibaa community in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
It’s gathered that Okutuoma was at home when he called her neighbour’s daughter to help him buy a sachet of water.
The victim’s mother narrated the event that led to the alleged defilement of her daughter and subsequent incidents when she appeared on Cool/Wazobia/Info fm in the Port Harcourt area of the state.
Speaking in the company of her husband and daughter at the station, the mother of the minor said when her daughter returned with the sachet of water, Okutuoma took her into his flat and allegedly defiled her.
The despondent mother said after her neighbour committed the crime, he told her daughter she would die if she told anybody about the heinous act, adding that she got to know her daughter had been defiled when her school teacher observed blood stains on her pants.
The mother said, “When my daughter went to school, the teacher told me to come to the school to see my daughter. When I got there, I observed her pants and clothes were stained with blood and water. So, I carried her back home and after some hours, I asked her to tell me what happened to her.
“She told me that the day Bright Okutuoma called her to buy a sachet of water for him, after buying the water, the man carried her, dropped her on his bed and used a pillow to cover her mouth. She said she did not tell me on that day because the boy told her that if she opens her mouth (to tell anyone) she will die.”
The victim’s mother, while expressing sadness over the development, said ever since Okutuoma allegedly defiled her daughter, her health had deteriorated, adding that she could no longer control herself when she wanted to pee or defecate.
“I have been using all the money I have to buy drugs but two to three days after (she uses) the drugs, the problem will continue. I no longer have money for treatment.
“My daughter can’t defecate or urinate on her own. The poo and pee just comes out on its own and her pants will be stained. She cannot even walk well with one of her legs and can’t stand well if you don’t hold her,” the teary mother said.
It’s gathered that policemen of the Rumuni Police Station arrested Okutuoma on June 13, 2023, following the intervention of residents in the community.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that Okutuoma had been arrested, adding that the case would be transferred to the State CID after the holidays for proper investigation.