An undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) who allegedly raped and killed an eight-year-old girl in Rivers State has escaped from police custody.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Zaki Ahmed, who confirmed this to reporters, said the suspect fled on Sunday evening.

He said the suspect suddenly took to his heels and disappeared into darkness while he was being interrogated and prepared to be moved to where he would be detained at the state’s Criminal Investigation Department.

Ahmed, however, disclosedthat a man hunt had been put in motion by the Police Command to arrest the fleeing suspect.

The UNIPORT undergraduate, one Ifeanyi, had reportedly cut off the vital parts of the deceased before he was apprehended by security operatives on Saturday morning.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, had said that the suspect was on his way to dispose of the remains of the girl before he was arrested.

Omoni warned parents to monitor the movements of their children and be wary of those they allow to have access to them.

The father of the girl, who was part of the search and rescue team since his daughter disappeared on Friday, had identified the suspect as his cousin. (Channels TV)