The Delta State Police Command has arrested the proprietor of Great Leaders International School in Agbor-Obi for allegedly raping a 4-year-old girl and injuring her with scissors.
The incident was reported on X by a user @Rich Aunty Amina on Wednesday, who claimed that the school owner raped the girl and used scissors to tear her up so he can fit inside her.
She wrote: “The owner of Great Leaders International School in Delta State raped a 4-year-old girl and used scissors to tear her up so he can fit inside her. She came back from school complaining to her mom that she was feeling pains, the mum checked her and saw blood clots coming from the child’s vagina. The man’s lawyer is currently telling the mom that they should just settle her and her daughter.”
The post sparked outrage and condemnation from X users, who demanded justice for the victim and punishment for the perpetrator.
Reacting to the post on his official X on Thursday, the Delta State Police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said that the police were aware of the case and were investigating it.
He said: “If you expect the police to go to the school and harass anybody, well, I am afraid to say it does not work that way.”
He added that the police would follow due process and gather evidence before taking any action.
Some hours later, Edafe in a follow up post, confirmed that the incident happened two weeks ago, stating that the suspect has been arrested.
He wrote: “The Area Commander just called me that this incident happened two weeks ago, though the owner of the school denied it, the Area Commander Agbor and not the division is currently handling it. I will revert when I get the full update. But I’m assuring us that justice will prevail. However, we should avoid settlement because these days, parents, especially, from rural areas, go behind the police and collect money from suspects, thereby making prosecution very difficult.”
He also revealed that the Commissioner of Police has directed the Area Commander to charge the case to court. He said that they were presently in court as of Thursday.
The case has drawn attention to the issue of child abuse and sexual violence in Nigeria, where many victims suffer in silence or are pressured to settle out of court.
