5th September, 2012
A 50-year-old man is now in police custody at Ejigbo Police Division, Lagos for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.
The mother of the victim has cried out, expressing her frustration, claiming that the police at Ejigbo division were putting her under pressure to withdraw the matter by demanding money from her. The embittered woman said the police asked her to bring money to enable the police do the investigation and engage a lawyer who will handle her matter.
She said could not afford the N5,000 the police were demanding from her, thereby frustrating her desire to seek justice for her daughter.
The Ondo State-born trailer driver reportedly took the victim, his neighbour’s daughter inside his house at 1 Aroromi Street, Ejigbo, Lagos and inserted his finger into her vagina, after which he reportedly rubbed some cream on his manhood and forced it inside, resulting in some bruises.
This, according to the victim, had happened on twice before the matter blew open.
The victim told PMNEWS that she, with other children were playing and went inside suspect’s room. She said when they entered the suspect sent other children on an errand and locked his door while she was inside.
She said he carried and laid her on top of his bed and removed her pant. She said he started putting his finger inside her vagina before raping her.
The little girl said when she started to cry as a result of the pains, the suspect left her and opened the door for her. She said she did not tell her mom but she told her younger brother, who reported it to their mom.
The mom told PMNEWS that he got to know that the suspect was sleeping with her daughter when the victim’s younger brother told her about it. She said it was not the first time he was doing it, saying she had warned him before.
She said when she examined her daughter and found the story to be true.
She said she took her to a private hospital where the doctor confirmed that she had been defiled because the hymen had been ruptured.
She said she went to the station and reported the matter and suspect was arrested and detained, during which he confessed to the act.
She lamented that the police asked her to go to general hospital to get a doctor’s report, but when they began demanding money from her, she became tired of the whole thing.
She said she has no money to give them because she was the one taking care of their three children, adding that her husband left her with three children and went to their village in Akwa Ibom State.
When PMNEWS visited the police station the outgoing DCO said he was not aware of the matter and promised to find out.
He assured that the matter will be investigated and once the doctor confirmed that she was defiled, the suspect will be charged to court.
As at the time of filing in this report, the suspect was still being detained at Ejigbo Police Station.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe