By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested three suspects in separate cases of child def!lement across the state, including a barber who allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old girl who visited his shop for a haircut.
According to a press release issued on Sunday by SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, the arrests were made by operatives of the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department following reports from Oba, Eziowelle, and Ogidi Divisions.
He said, in the first case, which reported on August 19, 2025, police operatives attached to Oba Division arrested one Ihechiluru Okorie for allegedly def!ling a 14-year-old girl. The suspect reportedly confessed to the cr!me, stating that he forcefully had carnal knowledge of the victim inside his barbershop.
The second incident, according to him, occurred on August 13, 2025, in Eziowelle, where Chidubem Udem, aged 28, was arrested for allegedly def!ling a 5-year-old girl. Investigations revealed that the suspect visited the victim at her grandmother’s residence and committed the act. The child was immediately taken to a hospital, where medical examination confirmed the ass@ult.
According to him, the third case, Kalu Ilo, aged 30, was arrested on August 28, 2025, by Ogidi Division operatives for allegedly def!ling his neighbor’s 13-year-old daughter, who is mentally challenged. Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect entered the victim’s home in Nkpor and forcefully ass@ulted her.
All three suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, strongly condemned the acts and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to securing justice for the victims. He urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to remain vigilant and report any incidents of s3xual or gender-based violence promptly.
