Ogun: Man, 76 Arrested for Defiling 16-Year-Old Girl

A 76-year-old man, David Ogunsanwo, has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) for having carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old girl in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

The 16-year-old girl (name withheld) as at the time of filing this report was already five months pregnant.

Speaking with newsmen on the case, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, stated that the case would be charged to court, adding that her ministry would follow through to ensure justice was served.

The commissioner, who emphasized the increase in sexual abuse cases in the country, however, appealed to victims to always speak out while calling on parents to stop withdrawing cases out of victimization.

“We are aware that cases of violation and abuse are increasing. There’s a huge increase in these kinds of crimes, especially against children.

“The incidence of people going to police, reporting and withdrawing the case is also increasing. And we want to draw the attention of all parents, that if your child is a victim of violation, report the case to the police and do not withdraw it, because when you withdraw the case, it gives the perpetrator the leeway to continue to do it and also do it to other children.

“I am calling on the National Council of Women Society. We have a case of a 12-year-old girl, who has been violated before by two men. The case has been withdrawn by the father, and now she has been violated again by another person.

“I am calling to make a public announcement to all parents, because our biggest problem is that when things like this happen, parents say they don’t want to make it public”, she added