Sexagenarian abducts, rapes teenage daughter of widow who declined his marriage proposal

By Ajuma Edwina Ameh

A 60-year-old man, Mgbechi Wekwea, has been accused of abducting and raping a 16-year-old girl at gunpoint in Rivers State.

Wekwea, who works in the security department of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumulomeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, was reported to have raped the victim because of her mother’s refusal to marry him.

According to the victim’s mother, Mrs Edwin Kindness, a widow, Wekwe had asked for her hand in marriage, but she later declined because she was no longer comfortable with his character.

The widow alleged that the man threatened to kill her for opting out of the marriage proposal, and accused her daughter of being the reason.

She further alleged that on January 13, 2021, Mr. Wekwe along with some boys abducted her daughter at gunpoint in front of her work place at Aluu, Ikwerre local Government area at about 6:00pm, and took her to Rumuakunde in Emohua area where she was raped.

Mrs Edwin said she later saw her daughter two days after the abduction and reported the matter to the police when daughter told her what transpired.

Taking up the case, a human right group, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has called on the university to hand the suspect over to the police without further delay.

The group in a statement issued by its coordinator, Prince Wiro, on Thursday, expressed worry that over a week after the Aluu Divisional Police headquarters wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ozo -Mekuri Ndimele, about the incident, the suspect is yet to be handed over to the Police.

He said despite the weighty allegation against him, the man has been going to work and taking refuge in the institution.

The group condemned the action of the school management, and accused the school of shielding the suspect.

Wiro revealed that efforts made by the Police to arrest the suspect, aside writing to the Vice Chancellor, has been frustrated by seeming lack of cooperation on the part of the institution.

“The most disturbing aspect is that the suspect reportedly called the mother of the alleged rape survivor two days ago, and told her the school will not hand him over to the Police as he enjoys the protection and love of some highly placed individuals in the University,” he said.

Wiro disclosed that the group will commence series of legitimate actions, which may include peaceful protest to the university, if the suspect is not handed over to the Police on or before January 31, 2021.