I was charmed – 13-year-old girl impregnated by grandfather in Lagos

A 13-year-old primary six pupil, identified only as Ijeoma, has narrated how a 60-year-old man, Baba Ijebu, and two others – Kingsley and Henry, allegedly raped her repeatedly.

The teenager resides in the Majidun area of Lagos state with the suspects and they were alleged to have been sleeping with her for about four months.

The teenager, who is said to be three months pregnant, told Vanguard she was charmed.

According to her, “The first time was with Uncle Kingsley. That night I was passing in front of his room, when he said he wanted to send me on an errand.

Immediately I entered his room, he closed the door and when I asked him why he did that, he carried me to his bed and slept with me.

“The second man is Baba Ijebu. I went to his place to collect one of the things we used to make soap. When I got inside, he touched me with something in his hand and I did not know what happened until I found myself in his bed with my pants off, while he was beside me.

“Immediately I realized this, I cried and shouted, but he said I would die if I told anyone.

“The third man’s name is Henry. In his case, he called me into his room and said that my mummy sent him to me. But when I got to him, he pinned me to his bed and raped me.

“I shouted, but nobody was there to help me. I couldn’t tell my mummy because I was afraid she would kill me,” Ijeoma lamented, noting that a neighbour, who discovered the ongoing abuse, advised her to tell her mother but she declined on grounds that her mother would kill her.

The victim’s mother, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “I became suspicious after I noticed some changes in my daughter and when taken to the hospital, she was discovered to be three months pregnant.

“She was raped consistently by these three persons. From what I gathered, they usually slept with her when went for vigil and at the end, they would give her N100 or N200.

“The suspects were arrested by policemen at Owutu Division, but released.

“Now they are threatening me for reporting to the police. Kingsley and Henry live in the same compound with us, while Baba Ijebu lives at the opposite compound.

“Baba Ijebu, somebody’s grandfather offered me N1, 000 to take care of my pregnant daughter, but I did not collect it.

“Kingsley claimed he only fingered my daughter,” she added, calling on the state Police Command to intervene in the matter and let justice take its full course.

Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, saying investigations were ongoing.

The Community Women’s Right Foundation, Alhaji Lateef Akinborode, has waded into the matter.

The Project Director vowed to get justice for the 13-year-old girl and her mother.

Akinborode said, “It is unfortunate that people are taking advantage of the less-privileged in the society, and by God’s grace, we will see this case to its logical conclusion by making the offenders serve as deterrents to others.”