The Benue State Police Command has apprehended a 40-year-old man for allegedly raping an eight-month-old pregnant woman.

The suspect was identified as Akpo Igwe, a motorcycle rider. He was said to have raped the 25-year-old woman (names withheld) last Thursday, June 8,  at Irabi Council Ward of Obi Local Government Area of the state.

According to a family source, who wished to be unanimous, the victim who was returning from the market had stopped the motorcyclist to take her home only for the man to divert to a bush part and raped her.

Similarly, the source said, “The incident happened last week when the woman was returning from the market. She flagged down an okada man and bargained with him to take her home.

“So on their way home, the okada man diverted from the main road to a nearby bush, held her down, and raped her.

“In the process, the woman passed out and the bike man, thinking that the woman had died, dragged her and dumped her by a river bank where she lay till the following day.

“In the morning, she woke up and discovered herself in a state of subconsciousness. She was too weak to stand and so she just laid there praying for help.”

The Family source added that the family that had been searching for her throughout the night later found her lying down unconscious by the river bank the following day.

“When we found her in that state we quickly rushed her to the hospital while the matter was also reported at the police station leading to the arrest of the culprit,” says the source.

It was reported that the case had been transferred to the police headquarters in Makurdi where the suspect is cooling off.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Catherine Anene, when contacted confirmed the incident.