Driver and Welder Rape 11-Month-old Daughter of Abacha Seller, Her Siblings in Nnewi

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The men and officers of Anambra State Police Command have arrested two aged men (a driver and a welder) for allegedly defiling four minors in the state.

According to a statement issued by the state's Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the incident happened at Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state, where the two men, identified as Mr. Peter Ezeala (aged 61) who hails from Mbano in Imo State; and Mr. Elochukwu Igwilo (aged 27) who hails from Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, allegedly defiled and took countless advantage of the four female children who were being left under their custody by their mother whenever was going to market.

He further explained that the four minors are siblings and are aged 11 months, 5 years, 7 years, and 10 years respectively.

In his word, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra Command, CP Echeng Echeng has enjoined parents/guardians to exercise utmost discretion in deciding under whose care their children/wards are kept. 

“The CP gave this advice Monday, 21st March, 2022, following the arrest and interrogation of two suspects —one Peter Ezeala (‘M’, aged 61 years) of Mbano, Imo State, and one Elochukwu Igwilo (‘M’, aged 27 years) of Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State for their alleged involvement in a case of defilement of four minors aged 11-month old, 5-year old, 7-year old, and 10-year old respectively. The incident occured in Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State on 5th, March 2022.

“Investigation reveals that the mother of the victims, a trader, was always leaving the children under the care of the suspects whenever she was away to work.

“Unfortunately, the suspects capitalized on this to take undue advantage of the children.

“Meanwhile, the suspects have been remanded in a Correctional Services Centre.”

Reports had earlier emerged from the Executive Director of Davina Care Foundation, Rachel Yohanna, and the Executive Director of Creative Minds Centre for Youth and Community Development, Ugochi Freeman, who said health workers at the Ntasi Centre for Sexual Assault cases at Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital, called their attention to the case and they decided to look handle it.

Yohanna noted that the girls were taken to Ntasi Centre where it was confirmed that the four children were truly defiled and severely injured, with tears at the posterior fourchette of the 11-month old.

She explained "The mother of the victim said she came back one day and heard one of their neighbours telling her 10-year-old daughter to report the defilement to her.

"She interrogated her daughter further and she was told the two suspects had been defiling her four daughters whenever she goes out to sell 'Abacha'.

"Their mother took the first two daughters to Ntasi Centre where their results came out positive. At that point, the hospital asked her to bring her other two daughters for test, and the results were also positive.

"The 11-month-old girl has a fresh tear at the posterior fourchette area of her vagina. The victims' mother and their uncle were advised to report the matter to the Central Police Station in Nnewi afterwards.”

While noting that the victims are currently on treatment; Yohanna further said the suspects has confessed to the crime, and while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Awka, for further investigation.