Odahiekwu Ogunde
Police in Bayelsa have arrested a man, Benjamin Wariebi, 20, for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Bebelebiri II community of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday at about 8pm, was said to have thrown community members into shock as the defiled girl was being rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, with blood gushing out of her private part.
The victim was said to have undergone multiple stitches in her virginal before the blood coming out of her private part could be stopped.
The victim (name withheld), while recounting her ordeal, said the suspected paedophile had asked her to go and buy N50 groundnut for him.
She said when she returned with the groundnut, Wariebi allegedly dragged her into his room and used his hand to cover her mouth to stop her from screaming as he raped her.
The minor stated, “After he finished, I was crying and bleeding with lots of pains. Some youths saw me and asked me why I was crying and I told them. Wariebi wanted to run but he was apprehended.”
Talking about the incident, the minor’s mother, who did not want to be named, said she had been under pressure from some people to collect money and stop the prosecution of the suspected rapist.
She, however, said she would not stop the prosecution of the alleged violator of her child because of money.
She said, “All I need is justice. He must be made to pay for this gross damage done to my daughter.”
Speaking on the incident, Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, Chairperson of the Dise Ogbise Foundation, an advocacy group against rape and violence against the girl-child, expressed worry over the rising cases of rape in Bayelsa.
Ogbise-Erhisere, a lawyer, said, “This is one case, too many. I am short of words. The girl has been stitched up and in pains. She’s responding to treatment though.
“The perpetrator is in police custody. This is a clear case of defilement and I will urge the team of policemen to quickly tidy up their investigation and send the file to Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice and possible immediate prosecution of the perpetrator.”
Spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the arrest of the suspected rapist.
Butswat, a Superintendent of Police, said the suspect had been arrested and detained and that investigation was ongoing.