Thirty-Seven year old Emmanuel Ighoruemu, a married man and father of four has confessed to the police of raping his friend’s 8-year-old girl.
The incident happened in the Egbo community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state.
Emmanuel’s confession came after he was arrested by the police following a report made by an activist, Kelvin Ejumudo, who was informed of the incident by the parents of the girl.
In his confession, Emmanuel told the police he defiled the girl more than once.
Narrating the incident, Ejumudo said the victim was placed in the care of the suspect due to the fact that her parents and the suspect are friends and neighbours and had traveled with the hope the suspect would help take care of the victim.
“The little girl’s parent took her to the house of Mr Emmanuel and traveled for a day trip only for him to forcefully defiled the minor in his matrimonial bedroom and threatened to kill her if she ever tells anyone about it and offered her 500 Naira which the little girl rejected,” he said.
The victim reportedly told her parents how Emmanuel defiled her leading to his arrest.
“I got a distress call from the family of the little girl and immediately swung into action to arrest Mr Emmanuel Ighoruemu. He’s currently cooling off in the cell of the Nigeria Police Force Ughelli area command of Delta state and he will be charged to court on Wednesday 6th November 2024.
“The medical report has it that the little girl has been infected with warts infection, her hymen broken and vulva ruptured. She’s currently undergoing medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Ejumudo further said the incident was not the first time the suspect would be guilty of such offence having raped another little girl previously.
“The said Emmanuel Ighoruemu sometime in 2023 also raped a little girl in the Egbo community and was flogged by community youths and they took money from him and settled the matter without informing the relevant authorities hence he continued with his escapades of defiling minors within the community.”
He lamented the surge in rape cases in the state as well as sweeping such under the carpet.
He also called on the Delta State government to take action against rapists and they educate the people of the state to report such cases to the police rather than ‘settling’ the matter in a family way.
“I am using this opportunity to call on community leaders within the state to desist from settling rape and defilement cases as it is a criminal matter that should be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The rate of rape cases is on the increase within the state and am calling on the Delta state Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the speaker Delta state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, Commissioner of women affairs, Delta state to as a matter of urgency and necessity intensify town hall awareness campaign against rape and defilement within the state and stringent penalties for rapist,” he said.