By Chijioke Emejulu, Awka
The Anambra State government has vowed to ensure justice for a 16-year-old girl who was gang-raped by eight men, including her guardian, in Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi, stated this when the victim(name withheld) was brought to her office in Awka on Thursday.
Onyekesi vowed to ensure that all perpetrators in the dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Commissioner, who was visibly emotional when the victim was brought to her office, expressed deep outrage over the level of trauma the teenager had endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection.
A medical report presented to the commissioner confirmed that the teenager is two months pregnant as a result of the repeated sexual assaults.
The case was reported to the commissioner by a Catholic priest from Nawfia who intervened after learning of the abuse.
Onyekesi said, “The state government condemned this act in strong terms, and the ministry will ensure that all perpetrators in the dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We express deep outrage over the level of trauma the young girl had endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. This is unacceptable.
“We urge men to protect women and young girls, rather than take advantage of their vulnerability. The ministry assured the victim of her safety and pledged to follow the case diligently to ensure justice is served.”
While narrating her ordeals, the victim said her guardian had been forcing himself on her every night, after which other men joined in the sexual assaults.
She said a “Good Samaritan” facilitated her rescue from the abusive situation last week, after which some arrests were made before she was brought to the commissioner’s office for safety.
The victim further disclosed that the guardian’s wife is a stroke patient and was therefore unable to intervene in the abuse.
The victim told the commissioner that police at the Nawfia Division had arrested two of the eight suspects, while the remaining six were on the run.
It was gathered that the case is currently being handled at the Nawfia Police Station.
In May, the body of a sexagenarian woman, Victoria Adegoke, was found abandoned in a nearby bush.
The deceased was found naked, and was suspected of having been raped and strangled before her body was dragged into the bush.