Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested an 80-year-old man for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl at Otuokpoti community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Gender advocacy groups including Dise Ogbise Foundation, Reigneth Foundation, Starrz Safety Initiative and Collins Cocodia Foundation said the suspect had been identified by indigenes of the community as a serial paedophile.
The suspect was simply identified as Pa. Stephen who was said to be suffering from advanced pile and hernia.
He has been taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ogbia Town on the insistence of the gender advocacy groups.
But, Metro Punch reliably gathered that the suspect was later transferred to the state police headquarters in Yenagoa on Tuesday.
A statement by the gender advocacy groups said the foster mother of the victim told newsmen that she noticed that the girl was showing signs of illness and absent-mindedness while performing chores.
It was gathered that the suspect had been defiling the minor for about a year before neighbours told the victim’s foster mother that they had seen him giving some money to the young girl.
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.”
Founder of the Dise Foundation, Dise Harry, told newsmen that it took joint efforts of the gender advocacy groups to ensure the accused was arrested and remanded in police custody.
Harry disclosed that the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, also assisted in providing medical support and examination but she will also undergo psychological examination.
According to her, the victim has been placed in protective custody under the Bayelsa State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs.
She said, “It is sad that such is happening. It is a red flag to all of us.”
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, is yet to confirm the development as he did not pick up calls or reply to a text message to that effect.
