Ebonyi state police command has arrested a 70-year-old man, Simon Alobu, for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl in Akpoha Community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over the course of three years.
It was learnt that the victim, an orphan, lived with her aunt in Akpoha town and has been with her since her parents death four years ago.
Speaking about the defilement, the 7-year old said the suspect lured her into his house on the pretext of helping him cook.
“After preparing the Garri (eba), my younger brother said that he did not want to eat and left the room. He immediately locked the door and raped me after which he used a razor to make a mark on my buttocks,” the girl said.
The victim’s aunt, Mrs. Martha Enya, said her niece was first raped at 3 by the same man without the knowledge of any man.
She said, “I became aware of the first assault in November 2014 when the victim complained of pains in her private part, I asked her what happened, but she could not speak out. After examining her, I took her to a hospital in Afikpo where the rape was confirmed by doctors and she was given medical treatment.
“He sexually assaulted her again in 2015, 2016 and again this year. All efforts to make my niece disclose his identity failed until I took her to a church located in Enugu in August 2017 where she summoned the courage to disclose that it was Simon Alobu that had been raping her in the last three years.
“I raised the alarm in the village. This prompted the elders, youth and villagers to confront Alobu.
“He then confessed that he had been sleeping with the girl all these years. I reported the case to the Ebonyi State Family Law Centre, which then reported the matter to the police.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Lovet Odah, confirming the incident said the suspect was in custody at the command, and had confessed to the crime adding that the suspect lacerated the victim’s buttocks with a razor balde. He added that the command was ready to charge the suspect to court.