Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, has reiterated the state government’s commitment towards ending rape in the state.
Speaking in Awka, after intervening in cases involving two victims of rape and child defilement, Mrs. Obinabo bemoaned such dastardly act and stated that the government of Professor Chukwuma Soludo is out to prosecute people found guilty of rape and child defilement.
The victims, eight, fourteen and fifteen years of age respectively, were sexually abused at Ifitedunu, Agulu and Ozubulu respectively.
Mrs. Obinabo enjoined parents, guardians and everyone to put all hands on deck to achieve a liveable and prosperous Anambra state, where rights of women and children will be protected.
After listening to the stories of the victims whom she had rescued, the Commissioner encouraged everyone to be vigilant and always report such incidents to Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare for immediate action.
The eight-year-old victim, a native of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state, informed the Commissioner that she was sexually abused by her guardian, one Victor Gbajie.
The victim, who was brought by her grandmother, Mrs. Christiana Akpu, amid tears, is currently receiving treatment at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, following complications as a result of the rape incident, which medical report said have affected her kidney.
Meanwhile the fourteen-year-old victim, who hails from Abia State, but resident in Nneogidi village Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, was brutally raped when she went to make sales for her mother.
According to her, the man who raped her and who also stays in the neighborhood, requested for ‘‘akara,’’ but she was shocked at how things turned out when she went to deliver the ‘‘akara’’.
In tears, she recalled that despite her cry for help, no one was able to come to her aid because of noise from a Generator in the compound where she was raped.
Same was the story of the fifteen-year-old girl from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, who was allegedly raped by one Oluchukwu Obi, who is said to be in his forties.
The culprit, said to be a tenant in Ngozi Nwanya’s compound in Ozubulu, forcefully had carnal knowledge of the girl when she went to deliver noodles he ordered.
Though currently in police custody, the women and social welfare Commissioner has mandated that the cases be charged to the Children and Special Offences Court in Awka for immediate commencement of hearing.
