By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The duo of a 61-year-old driver, Peter Ezeala and a 27-year-old welder, Elochukwu Igwilo, in Umudim, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have allegedly defiled four sisters.

The victims, who are aged between 10, 8, 5 years and 11 months old respectively, reside in the same compound as the suspects.

Disclosing this to journalists in Awka, the Executive Directors of Davina Care Foundation and Creative Minds Centre for Youth And Community Development, Rachel Yohanna and Ugochi Freeman, said the health workers at the Ntasi Centre for Sexual Assault cases at Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state called their attention and they decided to handle the case.

Yohanna said the suspects had continually defiled the victims whenever their mother went to market.

She explained that the alleged crime was reported at the Central Police Station in Nnewi and that the suspects were arrested, adding that the girls were taken to Ntasi Centre where it was confirmed that they were defiled with bruises at the posterior fourchette of the 11-month-old.

Yohanna said: “The mother of the victim said she came back one day and heard one of their neighbours telling her 10-year-old daughter to report the defilement to her.

“She interrogated her daughter further and she was told the two suspects had been defiling her four daughters whenever she goes out to sell ‘Abacha’.

“Their mother took the first two daughters (ages 10 and 7 to Ntasi Centre where their results came out positive. At that point, the hospital asked her to bring her other two daughters (ages 5 and 11 months) for test and the results were positive.

“The 11-month-old girl has a fresh tear at the posterior fourchette area of her vagina. The victims’ mother and their uncle were advised to report the matter to the Central Police Station in Nnewi afterwards”

Narrating the story further, Yohanna said that during police interrogation, the suspects admitted committing the crime, even as she said the victims were on treatment.

She said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Awka, for further investigation,

Confirming the incident in a statement, by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Echeng Echeng, admonished parents/guardians to be careful of who they leave custody of their children/wards with.

The statement partly reads: “The CP made this plea today following a complaint from Mrs. Oliya in Umudim, Nnewi on a case of defilement of her four daughters. The Command Operatives swung into action and arrested the alleged two suspects namely: Peter Ezeala from Mbano, Imo State and Mr Elochukwu Igwilo form Ekwusigo LGA, Anambra State.

“Information reveals that the mother of the victims, is a trader, always leaves the children under the care of the suspects whenever she wants to go for her business. However, this become an opportunity for the suspects to take advantage of these kids. The age of these children are 10years, 7years, 5years and 11months respectively.

“Meanwhile the case has been charged to court and the suspects remanded in the correctional services center, as case was adjourned. The State police command spokesman DSP Tochukwu Ikenga in a state confirmed the two were charged to court and have remanded in correction centre.”

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