I am in love with my daddy, says 14-year-old girl impregnated by father

Operatives of Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a 38-year-old Father, Baridap Needman for allegedly impregnating his biological daughter.

The duo, who live together in a one room apartment along the popular PDP road, Yenagoa, were said to be cohabiting since the death of her mother, who died three years ago.

The suspect, who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira in Ogoni, Rivers State, was arrested following a formal complaint from the State Gender Advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) led by Dise Ogbise.

According to Ogbise and Mrs. Mary Pekeowei, the GRIT was tipped off by a concerned neighbour, who noticed that the victim was five months pregnant and the father was responsible for the pregnancy.

It was gathered that the arrested Father has been violating his daughter since age seven, but the situation got worse when the victim’s mother died few years ago.

The Guardian gathered that while the 14-year-old girl, who is in Junior Secondary School three, was sleeping with the father on the bed, the two junior brothers were allocated to sleep on the floor.

However, policemen at the Ekeki Police Station, where the case was reported, were shocked when the girl declared that ‘she was in love with her father.’

The Chairperson of GRIT, Ogbise who confirmed the development assured that the advocacy group will collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to offer psycho-social support to the victim and ensure that she is well taken care of until delivery.

She said: “Abortion is not an option and the two brothers have been handed to their family member for proper care. The girl will be in government custody, as she needs to go back to school. Her dream is to be a musician and we will encourage her”

Also speaking, Mrs. Pekeowei called on residents of the state to be vigilant and alert the GRIT and other gender advocacy groups in the state of any case of girl-child violation or molestation in any form.

She said: “Members of the public should always speak up and reach out to relevant authorities.”