29th October, 2012
Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta
Police in Ogun state, western Nigeria have arrested a 62 year old man, Mr Alabi Ibraheem who was alleged to have serially defiled his 10 year old step daughter in Abeokuta, capital of the state.
Ibraheem, the alleged paedophile, had been on the run since the police declared him wanted. But he was arrested Sunday night in the capital.
Confirming the arrest to our correspondent this afternoon, the State police spokesman, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the man has been handed over to the Homicide and Child Traficking department at the Police Command Headquarters, Eleweeran, Abeokuta.
The suspect was alleged to have committed the crime at the family residence located at Opara Estate,Aiyetoro road in Abeokuta North local government area of the state capital
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO),Child Protection Network, affiliated to UNICEF has signified interest in the case and has pledged support to the police during the investigation.
The allegedly violated girl is a primary six pupil in a public primary school in Abeokuta.
In her statement to the police, she said she had lost count of the number of times her step father had raped her.
“He always threatened me with death each time he had sex with me, asking me not to divulge what was transpiring between us to anyone else”, she said.
According to the girl:”Daddy always comes to me when mummy is not at home, and warned me not to tell anybody,so that I won’t die”
The secret sexual violations were blown open when the girl related her ordeal to her siblings, who in turn spilled the beans to the mother.
At the police station, the mother of the victim, cried profusely as she wrote her statement.
The embittered mother said she was at a loss as to why her husband would pick on the girl for sex.
Medical investigation carried out on the girl confirmed the serial rape by the step father.
The coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Mrs Peju Osoba, who said the organization was spurred into action after hearing the girl’s story, said the group is ready to ensure that the girl got justice and the man punished.
“We are working with the police. We have taken the victim to the hospital, and result of the test carried out on her revealed that the girl’s virginity had been tampered with”, she said.
The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi said the alleged action of the man, if proven true ,” is
animalistic and barbaric. It shall be thoroughly investigated and the suspect would be charged to court for defilement. The police totally condemn the act, he will not be spared.”