The police in Bayelsa confirmed on Wednesday that an 18-year-old girl committed suicide over a gang rape by three unidentified gang men.
The Spokesman of the state Police Command, Alex Akhigbe, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the girl killed herself in Amarata, Yenagoa, Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“I believe the deceased decided to hang herself due to the attending shame and stigmatisation she experienced after the rape incident,” Akhigbe said.
He said that the command had launched investigation into the alleged rape charges filed by the deceased family.
One of the family members, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the girl was reportedly gang-raped last week.
“She was on errand for her elder sister and was allegedly raped at gun point by three boys who forced her into an uncompleted building.
“The girl was devastated after the incident. After some days, she told her sister and the husband her experience; her sister’s husband who is a Pastor, asked her to describe any of her attacker.
“She described one of the boys, but the boy could not be found; I believe Pastor has counselled her (the victim).
“The pastor has promised to pursue the matter to the court. She swallowed a poisonous substance known as Sniper and she was discovered while groaning in pain and rushed to the GloryLand Hospital.
“The victim was discovered through the note she dropped before taking the poisonous substance,” the source said.