A 13-year-old girl (name withheld) has been rescued by the Anambra State Government from her guardian who raped, pregnant, and abandoned her in a hospital where she had just given birth.
Ify Obinabo, the state’s commissioner for women’s issues and social welfare, confirmed the development on Monday.
Mrs. Obinabo claimed that she was also instrumental in the capture of the suspect known only as Mr. Sunday.
As I speak to you, the suspect has admitted guilt, she said.
The commissioner stated that the suspect was taken into custody on Sunday night and that he would be arraigned shortly after the conclusion of the inquiry.
The youngster was saved after a viral video clip that has been going viral since last weekend showed her holding her newborn child in a hospital in the state.
She described how her guardian often sexually assaulted her before she became pregnant.
After giving birth, she was reportedly detained in the hospital because she couldn’t pay her medical cost.
The youngster said in the video, which is making the rounds on WhatsApp groups, that the suspect, Mr. Sunday, had not visited her in the hospital since she gave birth.
The adolescent, who is from Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria, claimed that her original parents live in Agulu, a neighborhood in Anambra State’s Anaocha Local Government Area.
Shortly after being saved, the youngster told reporters in Awka, the state capital, that her guardian had been raping other kids nearby.
She claimed that when the suspect’s wife arrived in their hamlet, the suspect started raping her.
“Madam Ghana is the name of Mr. Sunday’s wife. When Madam Ghana visited the village, this all began.
“There are other people involved, too. Seven-year-old girl is the other one. The kid was mentioned in local media as alleging that Mr. Sunday used to sleep with her as well.
The victim continued, “I once told Madam Ghana about it, and she warned her husband, but when it continued, I could not do anything anymore.”
Nigeria passed the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act in 2015, making it illegal to rape, forcefully expel, or engage in any other type of violence against women and girls.
Depending on the sort of violence used and the offender’s age, those found guilty face a maximum 14-year prison sentence or life in prison.
Many states have yet to domesticate the anti-rape law, despite the fact that Anambra was one of the first 14 states to do so.
A family court was established in Anambra State in August to combat abuse against women and young girls.
Several people have been found guilty nationwide of raping others, particularly youngsters.
A discharged police officer named Mohammed Alidu was given a life term in jail in May for raping a nine-year-old schoolgirl in a police barracks by a Domestic Violence and Sexual Offenses Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, south-west Nigeria.
In July, the court also found Nigerian actor Olanrewaju James, commonly known as Baba Ijesha, guilty of assaulting a 14-year-old girl sexually. He received a 16-year prison term.
