An 80-year-old man was detained by Bayelsa State Police Command agents for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl at the Otuokpoti community in the state’s Ogbia Local Government Area.
Reigneth Foundation, Collins Cocodia Foundation, Dise Ogbise Foundation, and Starrz Safety Initiative are among the gender advocacy organizations that report that indigenes in the neighborhood have identified the man as a serial paedophile.
The suspect was simply identified as Pa. Stephen who was said to be suffering from advanced pile and hernia.
The gender advocacy organizations insisted on having him brought to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ogbia Town.
However, it was confirmed with accuracy that the suspect was later moved on Tuesday to the state police headquarters in Yenagoa.
According to a statement released by gender advocacy groups, the victim’s foster mother informed reporters that the girl was exhibiting symptoms of illness and inattention while completing household tasks.
Before neighbors informed the victim’s foster mother that they had witnessed the suspect giving the young girl some money, it was believed that the culprit had been defiling the kid for approximately a year.
The statement said, “Many of the neighbours warned the foster mother that they noticed that the elderly accused gave some money to the kid and warned the foster mother to be alert. They warned her that the elderly accused was a serial paedophile.
“On the fateful day, a concerned member of the community noticed the child entering the old man’s house on her way from school. She immediately raised an alarm and they forcefully rescued her. The victim admitted that the defilement started last year.”
Dise Harry, the founder of the Dise Foundation, told reporters that gender advocacy organizations have to work together to get the accused taken into custody and placed under arrest.
Harry revealed that she will also have a psychological assessment in addition to the medical support and examination provided by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter.
She claims that the victim has been placed in protective custody by the Ministry of Women Affairs of the Bayelsa State Government.
She said, “It is sad that such is happening. It is a red flag to all of us.”
