Suspects who abused, impregnated 12-year-old child not released, we charged them to court –NAPTIP

Daniel Anokwuru

The Zonal Commander, Benin NAPTIP, Edo State, Mrs. Ijeoma Uduak, has said that the agency did not release the three male suspects that sexually abused and impregnated a 12- year old Orphan, (Name withheld). She said that the suspects were arrested, charged to court, while the victim was rehabilitated.

The Nigerian Xpress had reported how a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually abused and impregnated by three men was delivered of a baby girl through caesarean section. It was reported that the victim was deflowered by a pastor, abused sexually by a traditional chief, raped and impregnated by a 40-year-old neighbour, while the corpse of her late mother was still in the mortuary.

She delivered the baby at seven months through CS, on October 12, 2019, at Irua Specialist Hospital, Irua, Edo State.

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Mr. Harrison Emefiena, her new Gurdian, had said that the victim lost her father long ago and was sent to live with a pastor by her mother. He alleged that the pastor took advantage of her and deflowed her at age 6.

He  had said: “The 12-year-old girl is now a mother. She lost her father years ago and her mother sent her to live with a pastor of a renowned denomination. At age 6, she was raped by the pastor and she was later sent to live with a traditional healer, who continued to rape her. She was living with her aunt, where a next door neighbour, a 40-year-old man raped her while her mother’s lifeless body was still lying in the mortuary.”

Harrison had also alleged that the suspects were previously arrested but were later allegedly released by the police.

He said that they left Delta State for Irua, Edo State, where they met the victim in the hospital before she gave birth. He had commended the management of the hospital for their effort to save the child and her baby girl.

However, he alleged: “The three perpetrators were arrested before, but were released by the police and NAPTIP”.

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But in response to an email sent to the Benin NATIP, the Zonal Commander denied the allegation saying the three male suspects had been charged to court. She said they received the matter as a petition and their officers quickly intervened by arresting the suspects and rescued the victim.

The response noted: “The incident you referred to was received as a petition by NAPTIP. In response to our core mandate and mission statement, our officers quickly intervened by arresting the three male suspects as well as rescued the under-age victim. The victim further underwent counseling and rehabilitation with our counselor. The three suspects have been charged to court and would be arraigned soon.”