The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly raping a 70-year-old woman in Igueben Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect was arrested as the command intensified operations against sexual violence and other criminal activities across Edo State.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, disclosed the arrest in a statement presented by the command’s Public Relations Officer during a press briefing on Wednesday.
According to the police, the suspect is currently in custody while investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual assault.
The command said the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law after the conclusion of the investigation.
The arrest was among several developments recorded by the command during sustained intelligence-led operations across the state.
In a separate case, police operatives arrested suspects allegedly involved in stripping a young girl and circulating the material on social media around the Ekiadolor axis.
The suspects remained in custody as investigation into the incident continued.
The command also disclosed the recovery of a six-month-old baby allegedly stolen from Edo State and taken to Imo State.
Police operatives attached to the Gender and Family Unit recovered the child and arrested suspects linked to the alleged abduction.
The baby has since been reunited with the family, according to the police.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Otuo Divisional Police Headquarters arrested seven suspected cult members following an intelligence-driven operation targeting cult-related activities.
The command also said it had concluded a one-week joint clearance operation across parts of Edo North aimed at dislodging criminal elements and destroying their forest hideouts.
It said the affected areas remained relatively calm during the operation, with no reported kidnapping incident.
The Commissioner urged residents to provide credible and timely information that could help the police prevent and investigate crimes.
He also warned residents against cultism and the misuse of social media to humiliate, threaten, expose or sexually violate others.
“Sexual violence in any form is a criminal offence and must not be tolerated or concealed,” the command said.
The police assured residents that it would continue to take action against suspected perpetrators of sexual violence and other criminal activities across the state.
(The Whistler)
