Bricklayer, 47, to be arraigned for allegedly defiling toddler

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 47-year-old bricklayer, Emmanuel Magbatie, for allegedly defiling an 18-month-old girl in Owutu area of Ikorodu.

The suspect, who is currently detained by the Gender Desk Office of the Lagos Police Command, will soon be charged to court.

According to the coordinator, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the incident took place on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at the victim’s residence in Owutu village, Ikorodu.

Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi said the DSVRT got a call from a mandate reporter on its hotline in the evening of Wednesday, August 3, 2016 over the alleged defilement of an 18-month-old girl in Owutu.

The reporter, she said, who did not have much information, gave us the contact address of the mother.

“A call was placed to the mother, who mentioned that her neighbour had defiled her daughter and that they were at the Ikorodu General Hospital and that the perpetrator had been arrested and detained at the Owutu Police Station.

“She was advised to come to the office for a referral to Mirabel Centre for appropriate medical assistance and further prosecution purposes. On Thursday, August 4, the mother came to the office with the child and some other well-wishers and a referral was done to Mirabel Centre for medical assistance.

“On Friday, August 5, DSVRT facilitated the transfer of the case to Gender Desk office of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja. The case is now in the Gender Desk Office and the perpetrator will be detained till Monday, while we await the result from Mirabel Centre, after which the case will be charged to court Monday or Tuesday.”

The DSVRT boss, therefore, advised Lagosians to report cases of defilement or sexual abuse to the team for urgent action.

According to her, parents, clerics and members of the society should join the fight against sexual and gender-based violence by encouraging victims to speak out, protect victims and encourage justice.