Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested an Abuja-based moneylender, Ahmed Usman, for allegedly sexually assaulting a nursing mother and recording her naked after she defaulted on a N600,000 loan repayment.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the arrest in a video statement shared on her official Facebook page on Wednesday, during which the suspect was paraded.
According to Adeh, the incident came to light after the victim lodged a formal complaint at the Lugbe Police Division on November 5. Preliminary investigations revealed that Usman specialised in extending high-interest loans to widows and vulnerable women.
In this instance, the suspect had lent the victim N600,000 under terms requiring a weekly interest payment of N30,000 alongside the principal. When poor business sales prevented her from meeting the full weekly obligation, the woman approached Usman with N24,000—the sum she was able to raise.
Enraged by the shortfall, Usman allegedly forced the woman into his Toyota vehicle, threatened her with a knife, and drove her to a secluded area behind the chief’s palace in Lugbe, where he sexually assaulted her and filmed her naked.
Adeh further disclosed that the suspect threatened to kill the victim if she failed to settle the debt, compelling her out of fear to source the balance and transfer it to him before she eventually reported the ordeal to the police.
Following the report, police operatives tracked Usman down. During the arrest, the suspect attempted to evade capture by speeding off with a police officer trapped inside his vehicle, though he was eventually subdued and taken into custody.
Speaking during his parade, Usman—who identified himself as a native of Nasarawa State and a married father of six—confessed to the crime and pleaded for forgiveness.
“I asked her to take off her clothes, naked her and I video her, even ask her to open her vagina, I video her,” the suspect admitted, while also confirming that he drove off with the arresting officer before turning back upon realising the officer was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
SP Adeh stated that investigations are ongoing and noted that the command is collaborating with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to ensure justice is served.
