The
Lagos State Police Command has arrested a deacon of Jesus Saves Church, a Lagos
Pentecostal church, Obinna Aneke, for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl,
Ngozi (pseudonym).
Aneke,
44, was alleged to have slept with the victim six different times in his
apartment on James Esu Street, in the Bariga area of the state.
It was gathered that the
Udi, Enugu State indigene, and the victim’s parents were friends.
Ngozi’s
mother, a food vendor, was said to have reached an agreement with Aneke to be
leaving her two daughters with him pending their resumption time at school at
7.45am.
This
was because she always left the house for her trade at 6am, while her husband,
a security guard, also left for his place of work the same time.
It
was learnt that one of Aneke’s three daughters attended the same school with
Ngozi and her younger sister, which made the arrangement to work.
While
Aneke’s wife, a trader, who equally left the house early for her shop was away,
the suspect was alone with all the children as they prepared for school.
A
police source at the command headquarters’ gender office explained that the
suspect started using the opportunity to allegedly defile Ngozi.
He
said, “The girl’s mother had been good to him in the past. There was a time he
didn’t have a job and it was the woman who fed his four children.
“So,
since he had had his own job, the woman thought he would reciprocate by
assisting her family to get her two daughters to school, along with one of his
three daughters attending the same school.
“Unfortunately,
the man took advantage of the seven-year-old. He would undress her and insert
his manhood in her private parts. When he could not penetrate, he would apply
his spittle to make it easier.”
He
explained that the act went on till last Tuesday when he again raped the victim
and afterwards threatened her not to tell anybody and if she did, he would kill
her.
It
was learnt that the girl opened up to her parents.
The
matter was subsequently reported to policemen at the Bariga Police Division and
the suspect was arrested.
It
was learnt that the victim was taken to the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where a test allegedly confirmed that
there was a penetration.
The
matter was subsequently transferred to the Gender Office, Lagos State Police
Command, Ikeja.
The
suspect, however, denied raping Ngozi, saying he only attempted to defile her
once.
He
said when he could not penetrate, he suspended the action.
He
said, “This girl was taught to lie against me. I only attempted to have sex
with her once and that was the day she told her parents.
“I
didn’t even remove her pants. On that day, I shifted her pants sideways and
wanted to penetrate, but when I saw it was not possible, I left her and
ejaculated outside her private parts.
“I
am a leader in my church and I don’t want to bring my church into this mess.
Even before anybody condemned me, I have already condemned myself and I wish I
was not born. I was influenced by evil forces to do this.
“I
just want to beg for forgiveness from all those I have offended through this
action and I just want to die.”
It
was learnt that the Lagos State Government had already taken custody of the
victim at the Heritage Home, in the Anthony area of the state.
The
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, warned parents to be
watchful so that their children would not fall victims of abuse.
She
said, “We will arraign the suspect at the conclusion of investigations. It is
unfortunate that the scourge of rape is on the increase, but we are working to
checkmate the activities of paedophiles in our society.”
FOR MORE STORIES VISIT CKN NEWS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:
Twitter: @CKNNigeria
Facebook: CKNNigeria
CKN NEWS Hotline: 08080054001
Whatsapp: 08099677755
BBM : 2BE329DF
Website: www.cknnigeria.com
Tags
Society