RismadarVoice Reporters
May 13, 2026
The Rivers State Police Command has commenced efforts to re-arrest a suspect identified as Goodnews, who allegedly escaped from police custody while under investigation for the reported sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in Rumuokwurushi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The suspect was said to have fled during a visit to the scene of the alleged incident alongside an Investigating Police Officer attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Port Harcourt.
According to the father of the victim, identified simply as Prince, the police team had visited the suspect’s residence as part of ongoing investigations into the case. He explained that the suspect allegedly refused to open the apartment, prompting him to leave briefly in search of a hammer to force the door open.
Prince said he was shocked upon returning to discover that the suspect had reportedly escaped. He added that the police officer informed him of the direction in which the suspect fled, after which he immediately joined efforts to locate him but was unsuccessful.
Reacting to the development, lawyer and Executive Director of Lawyers Watch Justice International Initiative, Gbenga Oladapo, described the incident as unfortunate and disappointing.
Oladapo said the escape represents a setback for the victim and her family, stressing that authorities must intensify efforts to ensure the suspect is apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He also called on the police to reassure the public of their commitment to justice and accountability in handling sensitive criminal cases involving minors.
The Rivers State Police Command has yet to release further details regarding the circumstances of the escape or measures being taken to recapture the suspect.
