The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected money lender, identified as Ahmed Usman for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a nursing mother before filming her naked over a ₦600,000 loan repayment dispute.
The suspect reportedly confessed to the act while being paraded by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a video shared on her Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to Adeh, Usman allegedly specialised in lending money to widows and vulnerable women, imposing weekly interest payments on borrowers.
The police spokesperson said the victim had collected ₦600,000 from the suspect, with an agreement to pay ₦30,000 weekly as interest, separate from the loan principal.
Trouble reportedly started when the woman, who experienced poor sales, could not meet her repayment obligation and approached the lender with ₦24,000.
Rather than accept the amount, Usman allegedly forced her into his Toyota vehicle, threatened her with a knife and drove her to an isolated location behind the chief’s palace in Lugbe, where he sexually assaulted her.
Adeh further alleged that the suspect threatened to kill the woman if she failed to settle the debt.
The victim subsequently raised the money and transferred it to him before reporting the incident to the police.
The police said detectives tracked down and arrested the suspect, who allegedly attempted to escape with a police officer in his vehicle during the operation before he was eventually apprehended.
During his interrogation, Usman admitted lending the woman ₦600,000 and collecting ₦30,000 weekly.
He also admitted asking her to remove her clothes, recording her naked and having sexual intercourse with her.
The suspect further acknowledged driving away with a police officer during the arrest operation, claiming that he only realised the officer was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) before making a U-turn to return him.
Usman, who disclosed that he was married with six children, pleaded for forgiveness during the police interview.
Meanwhile, Adeh said investigations were ongoing, adding that the command was collaborating with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) on the case.
