By Nwafor Okafor
Twin brothers have been arrested for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl in Abagana, in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state.
The suspects, Chukwuemeka and Chukwuebuka Okpe were reportedly arrested together with their mother, Mrs Chinwe Okpe, caretaker of the house where the victim resided.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Executive Director, Davina Care Foundation, Mrs Rachel Yohanna said the case was brought to the foundation by the victim’s mother, Mrs Benedict Sunday, a nurse.
She said the arrests were made following report of the incident at the Abagana Police Station, after which the victim was taken to hospital where the defilement was confirmed.
She said, “She was taken to Ntasi Centre for Sexual Assault cases at Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital, where it was confirmed that she was defiled which caused perennial tears (the area between the vagina and the anus).
“She was later accompanied by a police officer and an aunt to the suspects to the police clinic for a second test when the mother of the suspects claimed the medical result from Ntasi centre was forged, but the result still came out positive.
“The victim’s mother said her daughter complained of pains in her private part and stomach sometime in November 2021, without telling her the caretaker’s sons defiled her.
“As a nurse, she bought drugs and used hot towel to massage her daughter’s vagina area.
” On January 16, she said she got back from work and met vigilante group with her daughter waiting. The group said they brought back her daughter after she ran to them for safety.
“She explained the twin boys tried to defile her daughter a second time and because she refused, they beat her. When the girl reported to their mother (caretaker), she slapped her and threatened to deal with her if she does not keep quiet.
“The girl ran to the vigilante group for safety. And her mother reported the matter to the police station in Abagana afterwards.”
Yohanna further revealed that during police interrogation, the victim confessed that while her mother was away, she was attacked by the suspects in the bathroom, held her on the floor and defiled her.
While noting that the suspects were still denying the act, Yohanna said the victim was on treatment while the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.
“The case will be charged to family court after investigation, while the foundation will mobilise support and follow up the case to ensure the victim get the needed medical help and justice, ” she added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the incident.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng had assured justice would be served after investigations.
He said, “Two suspects are already in custody in a reported case of defilement at Abagana police divisional headquarters and the case has been transferred to State Criminal investigation department, Awka for a discreet investigation
“However, the CP while wondering why the suspects could engage in such, described the act as unclean and desecrate, assures that justice shall be served after a comprehensive investigation is concluded.”
