A 20 years old herdsman who reportedly raped a 54-year-old has said that he committed the act under the influence of alcohol.

The Fulani herdsman, Laulo Isa, reportedly raped one Mrs Mary Okereke to death to death in Ugwulangwu community, in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, on December 28, 2019.

The suspect stated this after he was paraded by the Ebonyi State Police Command, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday.According to him, the woman insulted him, which led to a struggle between them before he overpowered her and raped her.

The herdsman further added that  he was not in his right mind frame when he committed the act, saying,

“I highly regret my actions.”

According to him,

”I am Laulo Isa. I am from Nassarawa State. I came to work here in Ebonyi. I was seriously drunk and saw a woman in the night walking along the road alone. I approached her for sex and she started abusing me.

“We started abusing ourselves and I immediately pounced on her and she started struggling with me to free herself. I was seriously drunk at that time. As I was on her, a man who was passing flashed his torchlight on me and I ran away.

“I don’t know whether I was having sex with her but she was on the ground with me. I did not hit her with any object but is like I had sex with her for one round. We were both on the ground when a man flashed light on me and I ran away.

“I am not happy with what I did and I want to die. I just want to die. I want to die!!. I have never done this type of thing since God created me on this earth. I am begging for forgiveness.

“It was gathered that the victim was returning from the farm, before the herdsman accosted her, dragged her into a nearby bush and raped her to death. While raping the woman, a passerby, flashed his torchlight on him and he ran away.

The state Commissioner of Police, Awotunde Awosola, while briefing journalists on the incident, said the suspect will be prosecuted for the crime.

According to him,

” On December 28, 2019, at about 8:pm, one Laulo Isa, a herdsman, aged 20 years old, accosted and waylaid one 54-year-old, Mary Okereke, on Ufuezeraku Ugwulangwu road in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

“There was a struggle between the two of them but he overpowered the woman and had carnal knowledge of her. Unfortunately, the woman died during the incident”.The Police boss said his team, with the assistance of the youths in the community, combed the forests and farmlands in the area in search of the suspect.

He added,

“Through the concerted efforts of my DPO in Ohaozara LGA, with the assistance of the youths in the community, they began a search for the suspect who unfortunately left his cap and slippers in a bid to escape from that scene.

“So, with the assistance from two other Fulani guys, we were able to identify him through that cap and slippers and he was subsequently arrested and he is now with us and he is going to face the full weight of the law”.

The Police Commissioner noted that the deceased had been deposited at the hospital for autops