Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
A 50-year-old man has been apprehended by the police in Bayelsa after he was caught defiling his lover’s 15-month-old baby in Swali, Yenagoa, the state capital.
The act perpetrated by Oku Ekanem, who was allegedly caught in the act by his lover , sparked anger in the community , with those present at the scene threatening to mob him.
Unaware that Blessing Joshua, the 40-year-old mother of the child had returned from a neighbour’s house where she had gone to watch television late into the night, Ekanem was said to have sneaked to the bedside of the little baby, removed her clothing and was violating her when he was caught.
Ms. Joshua said the painful cry of the baby drew her attention to her bedside when she caught Ekanem, who blamed the devil for the act.
The suspect , an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was immediately arrested by the men of the State Anti-Crime squad known as Doo Akpor who were on patrol in the early hours of the morning.
The woman also reported the incident to the Bayelsa branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIFA) who are currently handling the case.
The mother of the child said: “It happened on Monday at about 1 a.m. I was watching television with my neighbour till late and retired to bed. It was not quite long, before I heard the scream of my child and ran to her side. But I was shocked when I saw him defiling my child.
“ He claimed it was the work of the devil and I told him that this would be last time the devil will use him and that I will take the matter serious.
“He pleaded and barricaded the door to prevent me from calling neighbours. But I tricked him and ran outside with my child to call the Police patrol team at our junction.
“He was arrested and denied the act. But a test carried out at the hospital showed otherwise.â€
Chairperson of FIDA in Bayelsa State, Dise Ogbise Erhisere, confirmed the development and described it as a “barbaric and wicked act which could impede the healthy development of the child.â€
