Landlord, 85, defiles 7 year-old girl

Peter Eliaho, an 85-year old landlord, has been arrested by the police in Benin for allegedly defiling a seven year old girl at Use, Ogida quarters in Egor local government area in Benin City metropolis.

The case which was reported at the Ogida Police Division but has been transferred to the Police headquarters for further investigation.

The State Police spokesman, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie, however said he was yet to be briefed on the case.‎

Mother of the victim, Endurance Ogieva, who hawks cooked rice, alleged that she was offered N1 million by relatives of the suspect to withdraw the case from the police.

Mrs. Ogieva disclosed to journalists at the police station that the act was committed at the residence of the suspect where she left her children with her sister.

She said the suspect was caught laying naked over her daughter with blood and sperm found in her daughter’s vaginal.

“I normally leave my children with my sister when I go to hawk rice. But on this day, I returned after 30 minutes because my son was ill. I met my son sleeping and my sister’s husband was also sleeping. His wife was inside the room. I did not see my daughter. I later heard her shouting. I traced the shouting to the landlord’s room. A man who is about 85 years old.

“I rushed there and saw the man naked. I grabbed the man and both of us fell inside the chair. The man was begging me to settle but my shout attracted people. When they checked my daughter’s vagina, they saw blood stains and sperm. I went to the police station and the man was arrested.

“The police took my daughter to their clinic and they said she had a tear in her vagina. They gave me paper to go and do about four medical test.”

She then explained how the octogenarian forced her daughter. “My daughter said he called her to buy local gin. She said he had a knive and threatened her not to shout or he would kill her but the forceful penetration made her to cry.”

“The family of the man has been begging me to close the case but I refused because the doctor said my child had to be checked and to also ascertain whether the man has any disease. We have not done any test. I don’t want any money. I want the government to help me because I don’t know if he has damaged my daughter. My child is too small for a man that is 85. I don’t want money. They are promising to give me N1m but I want justice from the government. My husband travelled yesterday and he said he will come today.”

Commenting on the incident, the Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Jennifer Ero, blamed the non-establishment of a family court in the state for the slow dispensation of justice in rape cases.

She said the group would ensure that the case is charged to court.