Residents lament daily rape of underaged girls in Calabar hotel

Residents staying near a small sized hotel in Calabar, Cross River State capital, have raised the alarm over alleged rape of girls between 12 and 15 years on a daily basis in the facility.

The hotel is located on Nkese Effiong Street not far from Federal Correctional Centre in the Afokang area of Calabar.

The defaced hotel which is a bungalow with a number of rooms shares walls with another building where the residents live.

One of the residents, who craved anonymity, said even after the Police raided the hotel for the second time in one month, two days ago three more girls were abducted and locked up in the facility.

“Usually when these small girls are brought, men would be arranged to rape them in turns.

“It appears the girls who are often below age 15 are often manhandled, forced to drink liquids and sniff substances,” he said.

Another eyewitness who live down the street also confirmed that last week when the Police raided the place, the entire neighbourhood was agog, hailing the operatives.

“When a father of one of the victims drove into the guest house two weeks ago, the daughter on sighting her father was dragged in by one of the accomplices.

“The guest house is known for illicit activities involving underaged women,” she said.

Sources close to the DPO of the Police Division in the Mbukpa area confirmed that the manager of the guest house was in custody.

The Police source said, “We’re holding the manager of the hotel over an allegation about how they raped one 15 year old.”

Commissioner of Police in the state, Gyogen Grimah, said the DPO is still handling the case and would soon officially report it to him.