•The suspect
A seeming uncontrollable sexual urge which led to the destruction of the chastity of a sickle cell carrier teenager, Ngozi (surname withheld), has not only landed Peter Ugan in police cell at the Mabushi Division of FCT Police Command, it has also led to the discovery of his positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status.
Ugan, aged 34, from Ogoja in Cross River State, was taken into custody by detectives from Mabushi Division on Monday, January 6, after he was almost lynched by a mob. He had lured the girl into a room and deflowered her, reports Nigerian Tribune.
It was learnt that while committing the rape, Ugan tore into the girl so much that she started bleeding non-stop.
Apparently aware of the gravity of his act, Ugan locked Ngozi inside the room so that she would not leave to expose him, and went to purchase medications not prescribed by any doctor for the girl. His aim, as he later told our correspondent, was to stop the bleeding and ease the excruciating pain the girl was in.
Information gathered revealed that Ngozi, who was staying with her aunt in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, came to Abuja to register at the Government Day Secondary School, Mabushi, to complete her secondary school education when the incident occurred.
The first week she came, Ugan reportedly approached her for dating but being a young girl, she started avoiding him. On January 6, 2025, Ugan was said to have come to the room of his friend, Isaac, who lives in one of the uncompleted buildings in a compound whose owner is late.
Though the suspect lived far from the compound, it was said that he used to come to the friend’s house to cook whenever he didn’t have kerosene or some ingredients. The friend used to do the same at Ugan’s house when he’s also stuck.
On this fateful day, Ngozi, who lives with her parents in the same large compound with Ugan’s friend, was returning the plate her sister bought food with from Meshai and when he saw her passing by, he called her to help him buy sachet water.
The 17-year-old girl, who respected someone older than her, went to collect money to buy the water but got more than she bargained for.
Ugan, noticing that the house was quiet, reportedly dragged the girl inside, pushed her to the floor and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. By the time he pulled his organ out of her, blood started gushing from her private part.
It was learnt that Ugan locked Ngozi inside, went out and returned with some medications for her to take. He also started cleaning her legs when he saw that the blood was still flowing nonstop. Thereafter, he allowed her to leave.
On her return home, her mother, Mrs Elizabeth Aroh, seeing her daughter’s condition, became distraught. It was said that Ugan was about to escape when the mob caught up with him and beat him black and blue.
A credible source told our correspondent that the suspect would have been killed but for some neighbours who made a distress call to the FCT police command to come to his rescue.
Promptly, CP Olatunji Disu directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Mabushi Division to go to the scene where the suspect was rescued and taken into custody.
The girl’s mother also brought her to the police station, while she was still bleeding profusely. The girl reportedly collapsed and fainted twice, and was rushed to the emergency unit at Maitama General Hospital.
When it was too much to handle by those on duty that night, it was learnt that a doctor was called from Nyanya Hospital to perform surgery on her to stop the bleeding. It was further gathered that Ngozi had to be transfused with two pints of blood for her to stabilise.
As it is usually done, the Investigating Police Officer took the suspect to the hospital for tests. To the shock of all, the result of the tests conducted on Ugan showed that he tested positive to HIV. That again caused an emotional breakdown for the girl’s mother.
Ugan’s brother, who spoke with the police said that he had noticed the suspect’s emaciated looks before the incident, and had told him to go for tests.
During interrogation, Ugan told the police that he didn’t know he was HIV positive because he still had some tests six months prior to that time.
In an interview, however, Ugan, who disclosed that he was working as a Front Desk Officer in an eatery, claimed that Ngozi was his girlfriend.
He said: “She (Ngozi) was my girlfriend. I approached her for dating and she accepted. I started the relationship with her over two weeks before the incident. On January 6, I went to my friend’s house to cook and she came to visit me when she saw me. My friend lives in the same premises as her parents.
“She ate with me and we were playing. While we were together, I asked her if we could make love and she said yes. It was between 11 am and 12 noon. I brought out my condom and had sex with her. That was when I discovered that she was a virgin, and she started bleeding.”
When asked how he had a condom when he only went to his friend’s house to cook, the suspect said he got one from his friend’s room after he checked around and saw where the friend kept his.
He continued: “After the sex, she started bleeding. I asked her why she didn’t tell me that she was a virgin. I stepped out to get her some medications, but she told me to lock the door when going as she was scared and would not want anyone to come in. I told her it would be bad if I locked her in but she said it did not matter.
“So, I locked the door and went to get some medications like Flagyl, Buscopan and Diclofenac. I bought malt drink and she took the medicines. I bought another food for her. She washed up and stood up, saying that she was going.
“After she left, I went to my own residence. I tried to explain to my cousin what happened and he told me that we would need to go to her parents’ house to explain things and offer to take care of her if there’s need for proper treatment.
“We were about to go when I saw people, four security men, the girl’s mother and her siblings. I was taken to the police station and detained. The following day, I was brought out and taken for test.”
When asked why he penetrated the victim when he could feel that she was a virgin, the suspect admitted: “It was a little bit hard but the condom I used was oily and I didn’t really feel the obstacle. It was when I withdrew that I saw it was that much.”
Concerning his questioning the girl on why she did not tell him she was a virgin after he was done with the sexual act, he was asked if she did not cry out in pain for him to know how she felt. His response was: “I didn’t see her cry before I penetrated her, but she was very stiff and squeezing her face and hands.”
On why he continued after seeing her in pain, the suspect had no answer.
Our correspondent also inquired whether he had knowledge of medical practice for him to know medications to buy for the girl. He however said that he got the prescription from a chemist. He stated that he didn’t know the girl has sickle cell disease until he got to the police station. He added that he didn’t know he was HIV positive until he was taken for a test by the police.
“I thought her looks were natural, I didn’t know she has sickle cell disease. Also, I didn’t know I was HIV positive. The Police took me to the hospital for tests and when the results were out, I was told that I was HIV-positive. Honestly, I didn’t know I had it in my system. I used condom because I didn’t want to get her pregnant. I was not also ready to start a family as I don’t have the capacity for now,” he said.
