Rape suspect in Homa Bay dives into Lake Victoria to escape arrest, swims for 3 hours

A man looks at Nyangina beach located at the shores of Lake Victoria in Rusinga Island, a rape suspect ran through the beach into the lake to avoid mob justice and police. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

HOMA BAY: A rape suspect took to his heels and ran straight into the waters of Lake Victoria on Sunday daytime to save his life from an irate mob in hot pursuit, baying for his blood.

The incident took place at Nyangina beach in Rusinga Island, bordering Mbita town in Homa Bay County.

Nicholas Owino Otieno, 22, had to make the hard decision in order to live to see another day despite the alleged crime.

Trouble started when Owino allegedly waylaid six year old Macklin Adhiambo on her way home, grabbed her and led her to a nearby thicket with an intention to defile her.

The little girl raised alarm, attracting the attention of people in the neighbourhood to respond to her distress call. On arrival, they found Owino in a compromising situation with his victim.

That was when the suspect took off towards the fresh water lake, buttoning his trouser on the move with angry an mob on his pursuit.

To avoid the ruthless justice on him, he opted to jump into the lake, an environment he is familiar with as he does fishing there. He swam into the deep waters.

''We could not follow him there, he shouted back that he would drown anybody who dared follow him,'' said Lukas Nyanego who was in the mob.

Police officers from Mbita police station who were called in time to save the situation had little to do since the suspect they were to apprehend was unreachable.

Women wailed by the shore of Nyangina beach as they cursed the lustful man's intentions.

One of them identified as Nancy Adhiambo complained of increase in defilement of young girls living around the fish rich beaches of the Island.

''We have to be assured of our girls' security. There's no way we can be moving around with our children,''  Amos Kaunda, a parent at the beach.

When the suspect showed no sign of coming out of the water, three armed police officers and some locals decided to take an engine boat to go for him after three hours of waiting.

He dodged them by sinking and emerging at different surfaces of the lake until one officer threatened to shoot him if he became stubborn. At that point, he threw in the towel and was arrested.

Area OCPD Wilson Ole Nanga confirmed the incident.

"He will be arraigned in court when investigations are done and will be charged with attempted rape," said Mr Ole Nanga.

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