Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mrs. Janet Agbede, has directed the Special Investigation Team of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in a police station.
Agbede gave the directive when stakeholders and human rights groups comprising the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Vicar Hope Foundation and the state Ministry of Women Affairs, yesterday took the victim and her mother to the CP’s office.
They informed her that they visited her to inquire about the case after a viral video showed the victim’s mother crying for help when she was turned away at a police station in Aba where she went to report the incident.
It was reported that because the identities of the mother and the maker of the video could not be ascertained, concerned Nigerians and the police twitter handle put up several adverts seeking information from anyone that would help in resolving the case.
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The Guardian learnt that in what looked like an act of providence, Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Teenage Matters, Mrs. Chichi Umeseaka, located the mother and the child after three days and brought them to Vicar Hope Foundation founded by Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu.
Umeseaka, who condemned the rising cases of abuse across the country, stressed the need to curb the despicable act, just as the rights activists vowed to ensure that the perpetrator was prosecuted.
Leader of FIDA in the state, Mrs. Chibuzo Ehiemere, said, “We will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrator to book. We are not resting on our oars until we get justice for the little girl and her mother.”
She commended the CP for ordering the immediate transfer of the case to state CID for speedy investigation, describing her action as reflective of a dedicated and compassionate officer.
Following the development, Mrs. Ikpeazu had provided temporary accommodation and care for the little girl and her mother and had undertaken to pay all expenses for the treatment of the child.
The Foundation’s Programme Officer, Raymond Ukwa in a statement, noted that Mrs. Ikpeazu condemned the incident in strong terms and resolved to engage relevant persons, religious and community leaders to address sexual violence in Abia State.
“It is important that this case is treated promptly to serve as a deterrent to others. In contrast to what is being reported about Abia, we have a robust response protocol for handling cases like this in the state.
“We have worked together on several cases of abuse and violence. Most of them are in court, while some are at investigation stages,” she stated.
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