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Atan: How N1,500 textbook fee led to defilement, pregnancy, family’s collapse
Atan: How N1,500 textbook fee led to defilement, pregnancy, family’s collapse
What began as a simple request for a ₦1,500 textbook spiraled into a harrowing ordeal for a family in Atan, Ogun State, exposing the dark underbelly of betrayal cloaked in religious robes.
Two and a half years ago, Blessing (not her real name), then a 12-year-old Primary Six pupil, was sent home from school for failing to pay for a textbook. With her mother busy at her hairdressing stall and her father away in Lagos working as an electrician, the young girl waited outside under the scorching sun—until a trusted neighbour, Pastor Oluwole Jonathan of Christ Apostolic Church, Land of Mercy, invited her into his apartment.
That invitation would change her life forever.
Pastor’s Betrayal
According to the girl, Pastor Jonathan offered her medication for a headache and insisted she take it, despite her protests. “He said, ‘Am I a stranger to you?’ and forced me to drink it,” she recounted tearfully. “When I woke up, I saw blood in my private part. He told me not to tell anyone or I would die.”
The trauma remained buried for months until her body began to change. Her mother initially mistook the symptoms for illness, but a pregnancy test confirmed the unimaginable—Blessing was five months pregnant.
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“I was tagged a bad mother and sent to my father’s house,” her mother said, still visibly shaken. “I cried every night, fearing how she would survive childbirth at such a young age.”
DNA Revelation and Arrest
The family’s trust was shattered when Blessing named Pastor Jonathan as the perpetrator. Her father, devastated, reported the matter to the community development association (CDA), which led to the pastor’s arrest. Though he initially denied the accusation, DNA tests confirmed he was the father of the child.
The case was taken up by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ogun State chapter, and supported by Spring Centre, an NGO that provided shelter, medical care, and counselling for the victim.
In January 2025, the High Court in Ilaro found Pastor Jonathan guilty of defilement and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.
Lingering Trauma
Despite the conviction, the family’s pain persists. Blessing, now a teenage mother, struggles with behavioural issues. She frequently absconded from school, claiming to hear voices urging her to leave. Her parents, fearing for her safety, withdrew her from formal education and enrolled her in a tailoring workshop near their home in Ifo.
“She would disappear for days and end up at police stations,” her father said. “We had no choice but to keep her close.”
Call for Stronger Laws
The family’s ordeal underscores the urgent need for tougher penalties against child defilement. With the Senate currently proposing life imprisonment for such offences, many hope it will serve as a deterrent to predators hiding behind positions of trust.
For Blessing and her family, justice may have been served, but healing remains a long and painful journey.
Atan: How N1,500 textbook fee led to defilement, pregnancy, family’s collapse
Vanguard
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Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade
Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade
Authorities in Benue State have launched an investigation following a disturbing incident at Seat of Wisdom Secondary School, Aliade, where a female student was reportedly harassed and assaulted by her peers. The event has raised serious concerns over student safety and supervision in the state’s schools.
According to preliminary reports, the victim, a female student at the school, was subjected to inappropriate treatment by a group of classmates while on school premises. The incident came to light after other students alerted the school authorities, prompting the administration to notify local law enforcement.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed that officers have begun a formal investigation. Police spokespersons said statements are being taken from witnesses, and the identities of those involved are being verified. Officials have emphasized that the safety and well-being of all students remain a top priority.
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School management has pledged full cooperation with authorities, stating that disciplinary measures will be taken against any student found responsible, while also offering counselling services for both the victim and other students affected by the incident. Parents and community leaders have condemned the act, describing it as unacceptable and a violation of students’ rights.
Child protection experts have stressed that incidents like this highlight the urgent need for robust safety policies, awareness programs, and reporting mechanisms within schools. They recommend that schools implement regular workshops on respect, personal boundaries, and peer conflict resolution to prevent future occurrences.
The case has sparked broader discussions across Benue State about the responsibilities of school administrators, teachers, and guardians in protecting students from harassment and ensuring a safe learning environment.
Authorities have assured the public that the investigation will be thorough, and anyone found culpable will face legal consequences in accordance with Nigerian law.
Benue School Harassment: Authorities Investigate Assault on Female Student at Seat of Wisdom Aliade
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Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River
Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River
Tension has gripped Ogoja following the alleged killing of a 26-year-old woman, Moshie Igu, by her boyfriend, sparking a violent protest in Cross River and renewed concerns over gender-based violence in Nigeria.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the suspect, 35-year-old Malime Ejor, allegedly carried out the attack in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026, at a farm in Nwang Village, Ekajuk community.
Police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah disclosed that preliminary findings show the suspect reportedly lured the victim to a nearby stream, where he attacked her with a machete, leading to her death.
Operatives responded swiftly after the incident was reported, arresting the suspect and rescuing him from an attempted mob action by enraged youths at the scene. He is currently in custody, while arrangements are being made to deposit the victim’s remains at the General Hospital mortuary in Ogoja. The police further confirmed that the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar for a thorough and discreet investigation.
The situation escalated on Monday when hundreds of women and youths from Nwang I & II and other parts of the Ekajuk clan staged a protest, demanding the release of the suspect. The demonstrators marched to the Area Command in Ogoja, but the protest soon turned violent, with some protesters attacking officers and vandalising property, including a vehicle and parts of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) facility.
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Security operatives were forced to deploy smoke canisters to disperse the crowd, while at least eight individuals were arrested in connection with the unrest. Authorities say the situation is now under control, and in a bid to ease tensions, those arrested during the protest were later released to a community leader.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice, stressing that the suspect remains in custody and will face due legal process. With the case set for transfer to SCID, authorities are expected to deepen investigations and prepare for prosecution.
The incident has sparked fresh conversations around femicide, domestic violence, and the increasing cases of relationship-related killings in Nigeria. Analysts warn that attempts by communities to interfere in criminal investigations—such as demanding the release of suspects—could undermine justice and embolden perpetrators.
Residents and stakeholders have been urged to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, as calls for justice for the victim continue to grow.
Violent Protest in Ogoja After Man Allegedly Kills Girlfriend in Cross River
metro
Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests
Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests
Suspected bandits have attacked a wedding ceremony in Kahir village, located in Kagarko Local Government Area, killing at least 13 people and abducting an unspecified number of guests.
The incident occurred late Sunday night in Kaduna State when heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the venue and opened fire on attendees gathered for the celebration.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers arrived at about 11:47 p.m., shooting indiscriminately inside the wedding hall and causing widespread panic. A resident, Shehu Bala, said some guests sustained gunshot injuries during the assault.
According to reports, the gunmen operated for nearly an hour without resistance, leaving several casualties in their wake.
Injured victims were initially taken to Kagarko General Hospital, while those with critical injuries were later transferred to medical facilities in Kaduna for advanced treatment.
A community leader confirmed that 13 people lost their lives in the attack and have since been buried. He added that efforts are ongoing to ascertain the exact number of those abducted by the assailants.
The attackers were also said to have looted shops within the community, carting away food items, provisions, and drugs from a local chemist during the raid.
“The entire community was thrown into panic due to the heavy gunfire, forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes,” the community leader said.
Police authorities in Kagarko have confirmed the incident but stated that investigations are still ongoing, particularly regarding the number of abducted victims. The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Hassan Mansur, also confirmed the attack, noting that a comprehensive report would be released upon conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, alongside a serving senator, visited injured victims receiving treatment at the hospital in Kagarko.
Gunmen Attack Wedding in Kaduna, Kill 13, Abduct Several Guests
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