The Benue State Police Command has apprehended a herdsman with an amputated hand for raping a married woman in Ai-ede Ogego area in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.
It was reported that the suspected was trailed to Adiga market, where he was arrested and detained in the police cell in Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu LGA.
The herdsman was accused of raping the woman inside a bush in Ai-ede Ogego.
The incident has raised tension in the community, as the natives claim the woman has to go through a ritual process.
Residents of the community have issued an eviction notice to herdsmen in the area to prevent them from raping other married women.
A source said, “The victim who was a married woman struggled with her assailant inside the bush but there was no one close by to help her. She was overpowered by the one-handed herdsman and raped.”
“The rapist fled the community but he was traced to a faraway town, Adiga market, where he was arrested and he has been detained in the police cell in Okpoga.”
“Some money has already been released by the herdsman to the husband’s family of the victim to perform the rituals on the married woman.”
Another source noted that some residents of the community are planning on avenging the crime, adding that the invasion of herdsmen has created tension in the area.
Another source noted that the victim’s village people were bent on avenging the crime and this has further caused tension and apprehension in the area.