Armed men attack NYSC lodge in Akwa Ibom, rob, rape women

A lodge occupied by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at Udo Ekong Ekwere street, off Information Drive in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was in the early hours of Wednesday, July 6, 2022, attacked by armed men who robbed and raped female occupants of the lodge.

The attackers stormed the lodge around 1:15am, took away cash, phones, laptops and other valuables from their victims.

One of the victims Emeka Emmanuel who volunteered comments to press men about the incident narrated how the gunmen stormed their residence in commando fashion threatening to kill anyone who resisted their moves.

His words “They came here with Keke NAPEPs and started operation. They beamed torchlights everywhere and pounced on every door with heavy iron rods and threatened to shoot us if we fail to cooperate.

“They took away our phones, laptops, money and other valuables that they wished,” the visibly shaken Corps member narrated.

Other Corps members, who pleaded anonymity, narrated their own experience of the unfortunate incident.

A female occupant of the lodge said: “Most of us females sleep naked and so the sudden attack met us uncladded.

“For privacy reasons I will not mention those who were raped but in all, it’s sad we couldn’t get help despite our screams.”

Another female Corps member narrated how her apartment was broken into from the back door. “They tried in vain to break the front door so one of them forcefully broke in from the back. I was so scared and had to give up everything I had to save myself, ” she lamented.

As of the time of this report, the PRO of the Akwa Ibom State Police Force had declined comments on the incident, stating the need to gather more information before commenting.