Suspect
By Amah
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A married man and father of four children, who is identified as Emmanuel Ighoruemu, has confessed to raping his friend’s 8-year-old daughter.
The 37-year-old man allegedly commited the act in the Egbo community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The suspect, who admitted having carnal knowledge of the girl more than once, spilled the beans after his arrest by the police, following a complaint by an activist, Kelvin Ejumudo, who was informed of the incident by the minor’s parents.
According to Ejumudo, the parents of the girl had entrusted her to the suspect’s when they travelled because they are friends and neighbours, hoping that Emmanuel would help take care of her in their absence.
Ejumudo said: “The little girl’s parent took her to the house of Mr Emmanuel and went on a day’s trip only for him to forcefully defile the minor in his matrimonial bedroom and threatened to kill her if she ever tells anyone about it and offered her N500 which the little girl rejected.”
It was gathered that the little girl reportedly told her parents how Emmanuel defiled her, resulting in his arrest.
The activist further said: “I got a distress call from the family of the little girl and immediately swung into action to arrest Mr Emmanuel Ighoruemu. He’s currently cooling off in the cell of the Nigeria Police Force Ughelli area command of Delta state and he will be charged to court on Wednesday 6th November 2024.
“The medical report has it that the little girl has been infected with warts infection, her hymen broken and vulva ruptured. She’s currently undergoing medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital.”
Ejumudo further said it was not the first time Emmanuel would be linked to such offence, as he had previously allegedly raped another little girl.
“The said Emmanuel Ighoruemu sometime in 2023 also raped a little girl in the Egbo community and was flogged by community youths and they took money from him and settled the matter without informing the relevant authorities hence he continued with his escapades of defiling minors within the community,” Ejumudo added.
The activist lamented the rising cases of rape cases in the state, alleging that they were being swept under the carpet.
He urged the Delta State government to not only sensitise the people to report such cases to the police rather than ‘settling’ the matter in a family way but also deal the rapists.
“I am using this opportunity to call on community leaders within the state to desist from settling rape and defilement cases as it is a criminal matter that should be handed over to the police for prosecution” he said.
“The rate of rape cases is on the increase within the state and I am calling on the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the speaker Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Delta State to as a matter of urgency and necessity intensify town hall awareness campaign against rape and defilement within the state and stringent penalties for rapist,” Ejumudo canvassed.
