Members of a local vigilante group in the Okujagu community in Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have arrested Chigozie Okpara, a suspected homosexual.
He was apprehended on Sunday night for allegedly having carnal knowledge of an underage boy.
A resident of the area told PUNCH Online that the man, who is in his 40s, said he worked with a security company in Port Harcourt and usually lured his unsuspecting victims with food and snacks into his house before defiling them.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said during interrogation by the vigilante, the man confessed that he is a homosexual and that he had been perpetrating the act while he was living in Lagos State before relocating to Port Harcourt two years ago.
It was gathered that luck ran out on him when he was making out with one of his victims who was screaming in his room, and the noise attracted residents of the area who alerted the vigilante group.
The source said one of the vigilantes narrated how they picked the suspect, saying, “He lured the boy into his house and was doing the thing and the boy was screaming.
“So that was how they called our (vigilante) attention, and we went there and broke into the house and saw them (the man and his victim).
“That night, we took him and handed him over to the police. He is in police custody now.”
Meanwhile, a video seen by our correspondent showed the moment the vigilante and some residents were interrogating the suspect who confessed to committing the crime.
The man who said he hails from Imo State said, “This particular boy I knew from where I’m doing security work at the JDP roundabout along Odili Road in Port Harcourt.”
From the video, the suspect, who sat on the floor, has some bruises on his face from slaps he received for refusing to speak initially.
A second video seen by our correspondent showed the victim speaking to the vigilante, though he was not audible when asked how long the man had been making out with him.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect, who is already in custody, would be prosecuted.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated, “Yes, I can confirm the incident. The suspect has been arrested and is presently in our custody.
“Investigation is ongoing. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal and Intelligence Department. We will ensure that the suspect is prosecuted.”
