Two uncles allegedly defile 8-year-old girl in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Government is seeking the assistance of the Police in the case of an eight-year-old girl, allegedly sexually molested by her uncles.

This follows a complaint by the alleged victim’s cousin, Miss Esther Nwafor, that the uncles, a 35-year-old father of five and the other, a 25-year-old father of one, had been molesting the child.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwafor said in Abakaliki, yesterday, that the men, from Ezugwu Itam in Ikwo Council, took advantage of the girl’s predicament, arising from her father’s death and mother’s mental illness.

She alleged that the men had been using food items to lure the girl into sexual acts, which had damaged her vagina, adding: “They lure her with Indomie noodles, biscuits and candies until their deed was made open through her vagina that was suspected to be infected with Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD),” she said.

Nwafor said the child did not let anyone know her condition, because of threats to her life by the suspects, who allegedly warned her against telling anyone.

She said the victim’s grandmother and caregiver presumed the problem was mere disease and resorted to using local herbs to cure her.

“As improvement was not forthcoming, grandma took her to a chemist, through whom the disease was discovered to be a result of serial rapes by the men.

“The girl urinates under an excruciating pains, coupled with pus and blood, which accompany her urine and faeces.”

Nwafor alleged that the older man had been committing the act for two years and that the younger man inserted his finger nails in the girl’s private part, adding that the suspects influenced some elders of the community, who opted that the matter be resolved traditionally.

She expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the issue was handled in the community and as a result, she had to seek the intervention of the ministry.

Head of Department of the Child Protection in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mr. Godwin Igwe, said a letter had been written to the state Commissioner of Police for intervention.

“First, we had referred them to Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, for proper treatment, because pursuing the case first without giving proper medical attention to the victim may likely jeopardise and worsen her condition.

“We will take her to the Police as soon as she becomes relieved and also refer to the International Federation of Women Lawyers for free legal aid,” she said.

Igwe added that the case would be taken to Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation, the pet project of the wife of the governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi, for assistance.

He advised parents to be aware of their children’s activities and who they associated with.