… Pursue justice for traumatised victim as three suspects are arrested
By Newsmata
The joy of the Yuletide season for the family of a 12-year-old girl simply identified as Esther, was aborted as she was gang-raped allegedly by five men on Christmas eve – December 24, 2024, at Igiafodo Awuyemi in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Newsmata reports that the victim was not only gang-raped, the horrendous act was filmed and the video splashed on social media, thus attracting the attention of the community’s royal father, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, His Royal Highness, Lukeman Akemokue, who alerted the relevant authorities and immediately evacuated the victim and her mother from the town to Benin City for their safety and required medical attention for the girl.
The Edo State government has however stepped into the matter and vowed to bring the full weight of the law on the perpetrators of the heinous crime, three of whom have been apprehended by the police. The state police command also assured that she would get justice.
Speaking during a visit to Esther at the Diasy Ehanire Danjuma Centre, the Administrator, Office of Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Anani vowed that the perpetrators would face the consequences of their actions in line with the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
Anani said, “The Edo State Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that these perpetrators are brought to book. Section 4 of the VAP Law defines rape, while Section 5 outlines the punishment. Edo State has zero tolerance for any form of violence, and we are standing firmly with the victim”.
Utterly condemning the perpetrators, who reportedly filmed the act and circulated the video on social media, she said the evidence had strengthened the case against them. According to her, “The video footage makes it impossible for anyone to cover up this crime. The law will take its course, and these individuals will be dealt with decisively”.
She further appreciated the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella and his Queen, Blessing, for their swift action in bringing the case to light and ensuring that the victim and her mother were relocated to Benin City for safety and medical care due to threats against their lives.
Anani said, “I really want to commend your Highness. He did a fantastic work with his wife. It happened in his community, Okpella Kingdom; they didn’t hide it. immediately he saw the videos, he took it up, and I want to say when things like these happen, speak out. Speak out for somebody else because tomorrow, it could be your own child”.
On his part, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Akemokue, thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo and the office of the First Lady for a fantastic job and being proactive in response, noting that Okpella community would continue to support the administration.
Mrs. Anani, who was also at the Edo State Police Headquarters with the victim and other stakeholders, commended the Police for responding promptly and appealed for justice for the little girl.
In his response, the state Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, commended Mrs. Anani for the visit, and gave her his word that the victim would get justice. He disclosed that three persons were already in police custody in connection with the crime.