By Wasila Yakubu
A moneylender in the Federal Capital Territory, identified as Ahmed Usman, has been arrested after allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a nursing mother over a failed repayment of a N600,000 loan.
The suspect reportedly admitted to assaulting the woman and recording her naked during the incident, which has prompted a police investigation and the involvement of a women's rights organisation.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed the development in a video shared on her Facebook page on Wednesday, where Usman was presented following his arrest.
Adeh explained that the suspect allegedly operated a lending arrangement targeting widows and financially vulnerable women, imposing weekly interest payments on borrowers.
According to her, the incident was reported at the Lugbe Police Division on November 5 after the woman allegedly fell victim to the suspect over her inability to meet an agreed repayment deadline.
The police spokesperson said Usman had given the nursing mother N600,000 and demanded N30,000 every week as interest, separate from repayment of the original loan.
When the woman experienced difficulties meeting her obligation because of poor business sales, she reportedly approached the suspect with N24,000, which was all she could afford at the time.
However, rather than accept the payment, the suspect allegedly forced her into his Toyota vehicle, threatened her with a knife and drove her to an isolated location behind the chief's palace in Lugbe.
Adeh alleged that the suspect sexually assaulted the woman at the location and threatened to kill her if she failed to pay the outstanding money.
The victim reportedly managed to raise the demanded amount and transferred it to him before subsequently reporting the incident to the police.
Following the complaint, detectives launched an operation that led to Usman's arrest. During the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to escape while a police officer was inside his vehicle but was eventually apprehended.
During questioning, Usman admitted that the woman had borrowed N600,000 from him and that he collected N30,000 in weekly payments.
He also confessed to ordering her to remove her clothes, sexually assaulting her and recording the incident on his phone.
Explaining what happened, the suspect acknowledged that he had filmed the woman while she was naked and made her expose intimate parts of her body.
He further admitted driving away with a police officer during the arrest operation, claiming that he only realised the officer was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) after the incident had begun.
Usman, who identified himself as a native of Nasarawa State, disclosed that he was married with six children and appealed for forgiveness.
He expressed regret over his actions and pleaded for another opportunity to rebuild his life, particularly for the sake of his wife and children.
Meanwhile, Adeh confirmed that investigations were continuing, adding that the police command was collaborating with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to pursue the case.
The development has drawn attention to concerns surrounding exploitative informal lending arrangements and the vulnerability of women who depend on private lenders for financial assistance.
Wasila Yakubu
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