… As friend takes turn on 9 year girl
BY OUR REPORTER
Following his incest escapades in allegedly assaulting his two daughters aged two and nine sexually, a man in Bosso area of Minna, the Niger State capital, popularly known as Mohammed ‘Mai Keke’ has been on the hideout for several weeks.
Investigations have it that Mohammed has been engaging in this incestuous practice for sometime now and family members especially his wife who became aware of his act have been shielding him from being exposed due to the stigma involved.
When the nine years old girl discovered that her father was also abusing her two year old sister she decided to keep a sealed lips in order to protect the man from being exposed allegedly due to a stern warning of death the father gave her.
It was further learnt that another man in their residence who learnt of the man’s action also took advantage of the nine year old girl .
He would send her on an errand to go nearby and buy something for him. When she returned with the item, he would take her into his room and sexually abused her.
It was learnt that it happened so many times and when the father learnt about the neighbour’s actions he could not do anything about it obviously because he was also involved.
It was also learnt that while the girl’s grandmother wanted the father and the other man taking advantage of the girl to be punished for their crimes, the grandfather asked for the case to be withdrawn saying he has left everything to God.
Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Socal Development, Mary Yisa and her colleague, Rachel Twaki, Director of Social Welfare Services confirmed the incident.
They said the nine year old girl was counselled and assured of her safety before she admitted that she was warned not to reveal the affairs or she would die.
“A case was brought to us concerning a father that raped his two children, a two year old girl and a nine year old girl. And the nine year old girl was shielding the whole thing until the girl was drawn closer and we asked her, if they said she would die if she told anyone and she said, yes.
“We started counselling her and she opened up. It’s so devastating for a father to enter his own two year old daughter. And there were testimonies. The wife was shielding the man but the senior daughter saw it the case was ongoing and another man somewhere took advantage of the nine year old girl, probably knowing what was happening.
“He lured her by asking her to go and buy him something. The girl comes back and he will mate with her. I just enquired about the case and leart that the grandmother said the man should be punished while the grandfather said he has left everything for God and that they should withdraw the case,” they said.
When contacted, a Child Protection Officer of the Niger state Child Rights Protection and Enforcement Agency, Makusuidi Suleiman said the suspect is still at large as the Agency has placed surveillance to ensure he is trailed and apprehended.
Speaking on the inhuman act done, the Project Director for Strengthening Community Active Participation Against GBV as implemented by Global Promoters for Community Initiative (GPCI) with support from Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Mr Kalejaiye Olasukanmi said “incest is a crime in Nigeria and against humanity.
According to him “we want the relevant agencies to act and ensure that Mohammed is apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.”
He further disclosed that, as an organisation, the issue of GBV is frowned at, adding that “the communities want justice; we want all relevant stakeholders to be involved in the fight against GBV and to ensure that victims get the required justice and the perpetrators are brought to book”.