Man rapes only daughter, 15, for three years. #Nigeria
A 52 - year - old retired civil servant , Paul Akpederi , is cooling his heels in a Lagos police cell after eating the forbidden fruit .
The Delta State indigene , who lives on Adegbite Street , Ori- Okuta , in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State , was alleged to have raped his 15 - year - old daughter , Rose , for over three years .
PUNCH Metro learnt that Paul started sexually abusing Rose when she was in Junior Secondary School Three .
When the secret got to the knowledge of a teacher , Paul allegedly changed her school .
The suspect was said to have continued the abuse until she got to Senior Secondary School Two in her new school .
Rose ’ s former teacher was said to have run into her sometime in October 2017 and told a friend about Rose ’ s plight , who then alerted the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender through the agency ’ s social media platform .
Our correspondent learnt that officials of the agency reported the case to the police at the Owutu division, who then arrested the suspect and rescued the 15 - year - old .
A social worker, who was part of the rescue, told our correspondent that Paul started sleeping with his only daughter after separating from her mother.
He said , “ The man had been defiling his daughter since the wife left him . She is their only daughter and when the marriage broke down , he took custody of her . That was when the problem started .
“ He started sleeping with her when she was barely 12 years old . She was in JSS 3 then . They were about to start their final exams in the junior school when her colleagues found her crying uncontrollably . When they could not console her , they called the attention of one of their teachers , who then took her to a room .
“ She told the teacher what she had been going through and the teacher informed Rose ’ s pastor at a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who counselled her . Her father was invited and that was the end of the case .
“ The man , who was desperate to cover up the crime , changed her school and she lost contact with the teacher . ”
PUNCH Metro gathered that the defilement continued until Rose got to SSS 2 in her new school .
It was learnt that the teacher in her former school ran into her one day and they had a brief discussion about her (Rose ) welfare .
The teacher , who suspected the abuse was still continuing , reportedly informed a friend, who wrote about Rose ’ s ordeal on OPD ’ s Facebook
page on October 9.
A member of the OPD team that visited the victim ’ s school said she initially denied the defilement and attempted to exonerate her father .
He said , “ She kept lying and when we didn ’ t get a breakthrough , we got in touch with the mandatory reporter ( teacher ) who then assisted us in trailing her to her parent ’ s house . The police arrested the man and rescued the girl.
“ They were both taken to a police station. During interrogation , the girl again denied that anything happened . Her father suddenly became aggressive and said we didn ’ t have his permission to interview his daughter .
“ The girl was taken to the OPD ’ s office at Ikorodu , where she opened up to an officer . We took her to a home in Ijede , where she was placed in a shelter and protective custody. ”
The social worker who interviewed Rose said she gave a chilling account of her ordeal.
“ She said her father had been sleeping with her since she was in JSS 3 and he slept with her at least three times in a month. She said he slept with her in August and September 2017 as well . She explained that he always poured his semen into her private parts and he never used contraceptives . She said anytime he slept with her , he would tell her not to tell anybody . The girl said she could not tell people because she thought nobody would believe her , ” the official said .
It was gathered that she was placed on medication over complaints that she had yet to see her menstrual period, just as some growths were allegedly spotted in her private parts .
She was reportedly taken to Mirabel Centre , Lagos State University Teaching Hospital , Ikeja , for medical tests .
Our correspondent gathered that the result of the tests , which had been given to the police , showed that Rose ’ s hymen was broken and there was “ continuous penetration ” of her private parts .
PUNCH Metro learnt that after the victim ’ s confession , the Owutu Divisional Police Officer requested that she be brought back to the station.
In a drama that ensued at the DPO ’ s office , Paul , who had initially boasted , was alleged to have become humble after being confronted with his daughter ’ s confession .
“ When the DPO asked what he had to say to the daughter ’ s allegations , he said , ‘ Oga , I am in your hands o’ . The DPO ordered that he should be taken back to the cell , ” a source said .
The Director of the OPD , Mrs . Olubukola Salami , confirmed the incident , adding that the agency would pursue the case to the end .
She said , “ We cannot stop re - emphasising the zero tolerance of the Lagos State Government for domestic and sexual abuse . OPD is alarmed at the high rate of incidents of sexual abuse , especially by people of trust. OPD is not only interested in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators , it is also interested in curbing this rising trend. ”
The Lagos State police spokesperson , ASP Olarinde Famous - Cole , said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court.
He said , “ The case was reported at the Owutu division and the DPO led a police team to arrest the suspect . The girl was taken to a hospital where preliminary medical tests were conducted on her to be sure she was not infected or had any pregnancy or mental issue as a result of the sexual abuse .
“ The case will be transferred to the Gender Unit of the state police command for further investigation before the case will be charged to court. For now , we are working with the girl’ s confessional statement. ”
Source punchng
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