One of the three suspected herdsmen accused of raping a 75 year old woman at Umulungbe Community in Udi Local Area, Enugu state were on Friday apprehended and handed over to the Nigeria police.
News center Nigeria was informed that the culprits were apprehended around 5:30pm on Friday, after attacking the woman, alongside another in their farms by the herders.
An eye witness, one Chikeokwu, gave account of the incident, “I was drinking at a shop opposite the police division at Umulungbe when mob brought one of the suspect to the police. According to him, “The rape victim is from Lett Village. They were two in the farm when the herdsmen attacked them. One of the women ran away. I guess all the three herders partook in molesting her, considering that she was in a pool of blood when she was rescued.”
According to other sources, the culprits was nabbed and brought to the police division. The leaders of the Fulani herdsmen camping in the community were also summoned. They denied knowing the suspect claiming that he and his gang member, who are still at large, might have sneaked into the community.
The chairman of Udi LGA, Ifeanyi Agu when contacted described the act was condemnable, adding that, Prior to his swearing in as council chairman, he consulted widely to ensure absolute security of lives and property in Udi LGA.
“We have the state’s security committee that has been very active. We also have our Forest Guards and neighborhood watch. I personally advocate farming for our people because of the relative peace in our area. But what happened indicates that we need to re-strengthen our security apparatus to ensure that such never occurred again.”
NCN gathered from the police station at 9th Mile, Enugu, that both the culprit and the woman who was raped were currently receiving treatment in a hospital. Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, when contacted, confirmed the incident and revealed that the matter has been transferred from the 9th Mile police Division to the State CID for further investigation..
