Cross River: Retired DSP in police net for defiling 9-year old, 62 others arrested

A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Christopher Archibong, 55, is currently in police net for defiling a nine-year-old girl.

Parading the suspect on Thursday alongside 62 others at the Cross River State Police Headquarters, State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa told newsmen that Archibong committed the crime on May 31, 2017 in Calabar.

Inuwa explained that the suspect tricked the victim by luring her into his uncompleted building to go and fetch wood for him, adding that in an attempt for the victim to resist him, Archibong threatened to kill her spiritually.

“On May 31, 2017, one traffic warden officer who retired as a DSP, Mr Christopher Archibong, 55, defiled a 9-year-old girl.

“On June 5 2017, when she could no longer bear it, she informed her mother of the incident and the case was reported to the police on June 7 2017.”

The police commissioner said upon his arrest the suspect had confessed to the crime, adding that he would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

But Archibong told newsmen in an interview that “the whole matter was a set up.”

“I was set up by my close neighbours who got jealous of me after I bought a piece of land to build my house.

“I retired as a DSP in February this year, I am a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria; I did not rape the girl as it is said,” he said.

The commissioner also paraded 10 murder suspects for allegedly killing four people during a clash between two rival cult groups, ‘Clans’ and ‘Baggers’ confraternities in Ochong community in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.

“On June 8 2017, we received an intelligence report in our Ikom Area Command office that two rival cult groups, ‘Clans’ and ‘Baggers’ confraternities clashed in Ochon community and the conflict led to the killing of four persons.

“As a result, 10 suspects believed to be principal actors in the murder case were arrested. Investigation is still on, while those arrested will soon be charged to court,” he said.

Similarly, the Commissioner also paraded one Nnamoso Okon and Victor Edet for stealing a car battery from the vehicle of a police officer who was on night duty on July 2, 2017.

He added that during searching, the police recovered 12 car batteries from the two suspects.

“Between May 2017 till date, the Cross River police command has arrested a total of 63 suspects for various offences committed across the state.

“So far, we have recovered nine locally made pistols, seven live cartridges, 12 car batteries, four rounds of 9mm ammunition, three machetes, 10 motor batteries, armoured cables, three plasma television among others,” he said.