Community Apprehends Man Over Alleged Sexual Abuse Of 12-year-old Girl

Residents of Obunagha community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State have apprehended a 40-year-old man accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.

Sources in the community said the young girl fell seriously ill after the incident and was rushed to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, where she is currently receiving medical attention.

The suspect, who is a bricklayer in the area, was seized by angry residents and later handed over to the State Rapid Response Unit at Dor Akpoor.

The father of the victim, whose name was withheld, described the incident as heartbreaking and confirmed that the girl is under close medical care.

He said the family is considering taking legal action against the suspect after wider consultations.

Youth leaders in the area, including the former President of the Gbarain Youths Federation, Pere Orufa, alongside gender-based organisations led by Dr Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, have deployed field officers to monitor developments surrounding the case.

Former youth leader Pere Orufa, who confirmed the incident, condemned the act, describing it as cruel and unacceptable.

“The culprit had done it once before, and the mother was aware, but when it happened again, the child became seriously ill. That was when the mother raised the alarm, and the community stepped in,” he said.

He advised parents, especially mothers, to be more vigilant in protecting their children and urged single or divorced women entering new marriages to take extra care to ensure the safety of their daughters.

Founder of the Do Foundation, Dr Dise Ogbise Goddy-Harry, also confirmed the case and expressed deep concern over the rising number of child abuse incidents in the state.

“As an organisation, we are once again awakened to our responsibilities. We must revisit our sensitisation strategies and focus more on preventive measures to end sexual abuse of our children,” she said.

She noted that several similar cases had been recorded in recent months, describing the trend as alarming.

“Between January and now, we have recorded three cases involving children, while between October and December last year, we documented two other cases involving minors. These incidents call for urgent and collective action,” she added.

Goddy-Harry called on the Bayelsa State Police Command to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that all perpetrators are prosecuted.

“We are calling on the police to ensure that these cases are fully investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice. No child abuser should be allowed to walk freely on the streets of Bayelsa State,” she said.