Anambra lady robbed in hotel identifies suspect in custody

<p>A 24-year-old graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (name withheld) has alleged that a suspect already in police custody robbed and raped her at gunpoint at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State on July 11, 2023.</p>, <p>The victim identified the suspect and her phone among the phones recovered from the suspect at the state police command headquarters in Awka on Tuesday.</p>, <p>The suspect, Akuchieani Echezona, a male resident of Ifite Awka, was arrested at a popular hotel in Awka on July 20.</p>, <p>He was subsequently taken into custody at the State Criminal and Investigation Department.</p>, <p>Following the publication of the suspect’s photograph, the victim visited the police headquarters and identified the suspect and her stolen phone.</p>, <p>She said the suspect was among the criminals that abducted her when she boarded a tricycle along Ifite to Aroma Junction in Awka.</p>, <p>The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development, adding that the suspect admitted robbing the victim at gunpoint, but denied the rape allegation.</p>, <p>Ikenga said, “Following the publication of a picture of the gunman arrested at a popular hotel in Awka two days ago by the Anambra State Police Command, a 24-year-old graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University has come forward to allege that the suspect robbed and raped her at gunpoint at another hotel in Awka on July 11, 2023.</p>, <p>“She stated that the suspect was among the criminals that abducted her when she boarded a tricycle along Ifite to Aroma Junction on 10/7/2023, took her to a hotel within the area, dispossessed her of her personal belongings and raped her before she was allowed to go.”</p>, <p>Ikenga added that when interrogated on the new allegation, the suspect admitted robbing the victim at gunpoint but denied the rape allegation and provided the names of his two accomplices.</p>, <p>He said two more pistols were recovered from the suspect through the management of the hotel where he lodged.</p>, <p>“Management of yet ano