TheCable

A five-man gang in Abia state that specialises in robbing and raping female victims have been apprehended by the police.

Speaking to Saturday Sun, Janet Agbede, commissioner of police in Abia state, said the robbery gang “would collect their victims’ ATM cards, demand their pin and go straight to their banks and withdraw the victims’ money and transfer into their own accounts”.

Agbede said she decided to take up the case after 27-year-old Ezeanyasor Faith Chioma was robbed and raped on April 16, 2020.

“After robbing her of her valuables, they moved her to their hideout, collected her ATM card and pin and withdrew N380,000 from her account at Access Bank in Aba and later raped her,” Agbede said.

“During the period, she was held hostage from 10pm to 4am before she was released. Immediately she was released, she reported the case to the SARS in Aba on April 19, 2020.”

Obioguru Johnbull, a SARS commander, was also informed and with his operatives, they stormed the gang’s hideout where they were arrested.

She revealed their names as Chisom Okonkwo (19), Nsima Innocent (17), Ikeawom Joseph (18), Chidibere Kalu (24), and Austin Ogugua (26).

Narrating her experience, Chioma said “that she was in a keke coming towards Okpomuoba Aba axis when suddenly they attacked her, dragged her down and took her to the bush. Time was about 6pm.”

“They came back and repeatedly raped me from 10pm to 4am before they released me,” she added.

In his narration of how the crime was committed, Okonkwo, one of the members of the gang, said: “We were five that robbed the victims of their phones before raping them. We have robbed and raped many female victims. We can’t remember the number now.”

“I have been involved in armed robbery and raping of female victims for over two years. I have confessed to police detectives that I raped the victims and they have identified me. I accept that we robbed and raped them,” he added.

Kalu, the tricycle driver, confessed to the police as being the gang’s accomplice.

“I was the one who used my keke to drive them to the bush where they were robbed. They always give me N500 at the end of the day after each operation,” he said.

Agbede added that the police command deployed its detectives in all the strategic areas of the state, especially the Okpomuobo axis, to apprehend obbers and other criminals.