Via - Vanguard
Child defilement is becoming a source of concern in Benin-City, Edo State capital. It is even more worrisome when the act is carried out by supposedly men of God.
In the last few weeks, no fewer than five children have, allegedly, been defiled in Benin-City by men old enough to be their fathers. On Thursday, Edo State Police Command paraded 32 suspected criminals, amongst them, three accused of defiling children. The suspects include a pastor with the Deeper Life Bible Church, Abudu, Edo State, Eze Fidelis, who was said to have had carnal knowledge of two girls: Joy, 9, and Anthonia,11.
There is also the case of one Grace, 12, who was sent on an errand by her mother to get her a rechargeable lantern from a hall within their compound. When the said girl failed to return after 30 minutes, the mother went in search of her, only to discover that one Segun Oteru, 42, was allegedly having carnal knowledge of her in the hall.
The woman raised the alarm which attracted members of the public while the suspect was arrested.
The incident happened on July 6. The following day, one Saturday Cole, 35, and a co-tenant of the complainant (names withheld), allegedly lured the complainant's daughter, identified as Mariam, 11, into his room and had a carnal knowledge of her. While the victim was coming out from the suspect's room, her elder brother saw her and, on inquiry, discovered that the victim was not putting on her pants. The victim narrated her ordeal in the hands of the suspect. According to the victim, "uncle has always bought me things but I didn't know he wanted to have anything with me. He forced me and removed my dress, I was shouting but he closed my mouth and forced his penis inside me".