He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

AWKA, Nigeria – A 16-year-old girl has been rescued from a nightmare of repeated sexual abuse after her own guardian allegedly forced himself on her nightly and brought seven other men to join in the assaults in Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. The teenager, whose name is being withheld for legal and safety reasons, is now two months pregnant as confirmed by a medical report presented to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi. The case came to light when a Catholic priest from Nawfia intervened after learning of the abuse and reported it to the commissioner’s office. A “Good Samaritan” had earlier facilitated the girl’s rescue from the abusive environment last week.

The Anambra State Government has vowed to ensure justice for the 16-year-old girl, with Commissioner Onyekesi, visibly emotional and in a weeping mood, promising that all perpetrators would be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others. “The state government condemned this act in strong terms, and the ministry will ensure that all perpetrators in the dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others,” Onyekesi said during an interaction with newsmen in Awka, the state capital. The commissioner expressed deep outrage over the level of trauma the teenager endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. “We express deep outrage over the level of trauma the young girl had endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. This is unacceptable. We urge men to protect women and young girls, rather than take advantage of their vulnerability,” she stated.

While recounting her ordeal at the commissioner’s office, the victim revealed that her guardian had been forcing himself on her every night, with other men later joining in the sexual assaults. She said a “Good Samaritan” facilitated her rescue from the abusive situation last week, after which some arrests were made before she was brought to the commissioner’s office for safety. The victim also stated that the guardian’s wife is a stroke patient and was unable to intervene in the assaults. She further noted that the guardian’s children were grown and some married, yet none intervened in the ongoing abuse.

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The victim informed the commissioner that two of the eight suspects had been caught by police at the Nawfia Division, while the remaining six were still on the run. The case is currently being processed at the Nawfia Police Station. Commissioner Onyekesi assured the victim of her safety and pledged that the ministry would follow the case diligently to ensure justice is fully served.

This horrific case exposes the dark reality of abuse by trusted guardians in informal care arrangements. The primary perpetrator was the very person entrusted with the girl’s protection. Instead of safety, she found repeated violation inside what should have been her home. The case also highlights the critical role community members can play in rescuing victims. Without the intervention of the Good Samaritan who facilitated her escape and the Catholic priest who reported the matter to authorities, the abuse might have continued indefinitely.

In a related incident that underscores the persistent threat of sexual violence in Anambra State, the body of a sexagenarian woman, Victoria Adegoke, was discovered abandoned in a nearby bush in May. The victim was found naked and suspected of having been raped and strangled before her body was carried into the bush. That case remains under investigation, and authorities have not announced any arrests.

The Anambra State Government has assured the public that it will not rest until all the perpetrators in both cases are apprehended and prosecuted. The case of the 16-year-old serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of children in informal guardianship arrangements and the urgent need for community vigilance, stronger protective mechanisms, and swift legal action against sexual predators.

He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others