A retired teacher, Mr Ike Okoye, resident of Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area has been appr3hended by the Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in collaboration with operatives of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra for all3gedly mol3sting and engaging in same-sex activities with young boys in the community.
The suspect was arr3sted after the inc!dent was reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, according to a statement on Wednesday by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
Ikeanyionwu said the development was reported by the President-General of Isuofia Peopleās Assembly, Chief Chikadibia Okeke.
She said the susp3ct was handed over to the police for further interrogation after which he would be charged in court.
She said, āAccording to the PG of Isuofia, the susp3ct had been molesting and engaging young men in hom0s3xual activities for a long time now but anytime he got arr3sted, he usually got bailed by higher individuals in the state.
āChief Chikadibia Okeke narrated that they caught Okoye over the weekend having sexual relationships with lots of boys and young men and quickly put a call through to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, who instructed them to apprehend him immediately.
āWhen interr0gated, the suspect, a native of Okpoko village Isuofia and a retired teacher, who earlier denied the same-sex all3gations on the basis that it was his haters at work, later revealed that he had at some point romanced some of the boys, held their s3xual organs but never penetrated them as they alleged.
āMeanwhile, two of his vict!ms who pleaded anonymity said the suspect usually came under the guise of either assisting one with financial issues or allowing them to do his house chores and get paid.
āOne of his vict!ms, who is currently 25 years old (name withheld), explained that the suspect first mol3sted him when he was 17 years old and ever since then had been on his case until he decided to involve his mother while the other, a 31 years old, stated that the susp3ct usually got satisfied whenever he held his private parts but he got uncomfortable with the whole thing and bailed out.
āBoth victims alleged that after they left, the su.spect kept pressurising them and even threatened them at some point.ā
Ikeanyionwu said the Commissioner and the Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Celestine Anere, expressed sadness over the development and assured the state governmentās resolve to end child mol3station and h0mos3xuality in the state.
āFrom there, the suspect was handed over to the police for further invest!gation and consequently charged to court but when the suspect appeared before the police, he started pleading that he be forgiven though he refused to mention the reason why he should be forgiven,ā the statement added.
Peoplesmind