The Nigerian police have been accused of demanding ₦30,000 to register a case involving a 33-year-old man, Chinazum Nwaubani, who allegedly attacked a 14-year-old girl, Felicia Anaba, with a machete, leaving her in a coma.
The assault occurred in Obete Nchina Village, Ntighauzo community, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, after the girl resisted his sexual advances.
The victim’s father, Chijioke Anaba, has accused the Eastern Ngwa Police Division of demanding N30,000 to register the case, though the police denied the allegation.
It was gathered that Felicia was reportedly fetching firewood with her twin brother when Nwaubani attacked them.
Witnesses say he attempted to rape her but met fierce resistance.
Enraged, he allegedly slashed her multiple times with a machete, leaving her with severe head, leg, and hand injuries before fleeing.
Felicia’s brother escaped and alerted the family.
A search party found her unconscious and bleeding profusely in the bush. She was rushed to the hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
Mr. Anaba claimed that when he reported the incident, officers at the Eastern Ngwa Police Division demanded N30,000 to open a case file.
Frustrated, he feared the suspect — who is from the same village — might be released, especially after police allegedly suggested Nwaubani was mentally unstable, a claim the family disputes.
Despite the alleged extortion attempt, police later visited Felicia in the hospital.
The Abia State Police Command confirmed the incident but denied any request for money, stating that investigations are ongoing.
The victim’s father said, “My daughter fell into a coma when the search party found her in the bush. We immediately took her to the hospital and filed a report with the police at the Eastern Ngwa Division. The police demanded N30,000 to investigate the case, which I paid. Although they have arrested the suspect, I fear Chinazum might be released and could continue his attacks, possibly killing my daughter.
“The police must do their job because this boy is a danger to everyone in the village. They claim he is mentally unstable, but that’s not true,” he said, appealing to the wife of the state governor, Priscilla Otti, to assist his daughter, who may be permanently disabled due to the severe machete wounds inflicted by the suspect,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command has denied the allegations of demanding money, stating that no official complaint has been received regarding this issue.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said, “We have not received any such report, and no one has come forward with evidence. This is not a time for unverified claims. Anyone with credible information is encouraged to report to the Complaint Response Unit for proper investigation.”
She confirmed the arrest of 33-year-old Chinazum in connection with the attack on a pair of twins — a boy and a girl — who were working on their father’s farm in Obete Nchina village, Ntighauzo community.
“While at the farm, Chinazum Nwaubani, a resident of the same village, allegedly approached them armed with a machete.
He grabbed the female twin and ordered her to lie down and remove her clothes. When she refused, he attacked her with the machete, injuring her head, back, and leg,” DSP Chinaka explained.
“The girl’s brother escaped and alerted the family, which led to a swift police response and the suspect’s arrest. The injured girl was taken to the hospital, and investigations are ongoing.”
