One Okon Michael, 50, an indigene of Mbak Ekpe in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom state, who raped a two-year-old girl has confessed to the crime saying he was under the influence of an evil spirit.

While being paraded on Wednesday at the Ikot Akpan Police Headquarters of the state alongside other suspects arrested for various offences, the accused who spoke to journalists said he didn’t know what came over him.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Michael further insisted that he was under the influence of an evil spirit when he committed the crime.

“Even as I am standing before you, I do not know what came over me and what had really happened. Someone came to my house and told me something serious was going to happen to me but I did not take it seriously,” the 50-year-old noted.

Meanwhile, two other suspects, Umoh Samuel and Blessing James, paraded, blamed their plight on their brother, Samuel James, who is now at large.

While parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, said the suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from illegal possession of firearms and Indian hemp. They were also arrested for armed robbery and theft. They were apprehended at various locations in the state through sustained patrol and intelligence sharing