A suspect accused of defiling a 16-year-old girl has escaped from police custody during an investigation visit in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The suspect, identified only as Goodnews, allegedly fled on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, while detectives from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department were conducting investigative procedures on Apu Road, Rumuokwuta.
He was earlier arrested by operatives from the Special Area, Rumudomaya, and transferred to SCIID last week for further investigation.
The victim’s father, Mr. Prince, said the suspect was taken to his apartment within their compound as part of the process. According to him, the suspect was not handcuffed when he was asked to open the padlock to his room but struggled to do so.
Prince said he offered to get a hammer from his downstairs apartment to break the lock. When he returned, he met the Investigating Police Officer coming downstairs and was told the suspect had escaped.
He said he immediately gave chase but could not find the suspect.
Reacting to the incident, Gbenga Oladapo, Executive Director of Lawyers Watch Justice International Initiative, described it as “ridiculous” and raised concerns over how the suspect was handled in custody.
“It is extremely ridiculous. This is not just negligence, it is a betrayal of the victim, her family and every Nigerian child who deserves protection under the law,” Oladapo said.
“The Police should declare a manhunt to re-arrest this man and ensure he faces the law without delay. If the suspect is not re-arrested, they would be deemed to have failed the public and denied the victim justice.”
Rivers State Police Command spokesperson ASP Blessing Agabe confirmed the incident.
“Efforts are on to re-arrest the fleeing suspect as investigation is ongoing,” she said.