By Martin Iyonguvihi
A 13-year-old boy, Saviour Solomon, was recently arraigned before a Makurdi Magistrate Court for alleged rape of a six-year-old girl. He has been remanded in a juvenile home.
The suspect who was arraigned for rape under section 284 of the Penal Code Law of Benue state 2004 was arrested by the police after the mother of the victim, Mrs Bridget Saakura reported the matter at Police “B” Division.
The Investigation Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Marti Sunum told the court that the victim’s mother, who lives at High Level area of Makurdi had informed the police on 4 February, 2021 “she came back to her house and caught the suspect having sexual intercourse with her little daughter, name withheld, aged six years inside her house.”
When the case came up in court, the Prosecutor, Awashima Addingi Esq, from the State Ministry of Justice and representative of International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Hembafan Utange Esq, holding brief for the organisation asked the court for an adjournment to enable prosecution file appropriate charges at the High Court.
Ruling on the matter, the Magistrate, Mrs Joy O. Ayia Esq, adjourned to 14 April, 2021 for further mention while ordering the accused to be remanded at the Bostal (juvenile) home in Gboko.
Speaking to our judiciary correspondent, the mother of the victim, Mrs Bridget Saakura said, she was devastated and even fainted when it happened. She said she first reported the matter to police before taking the girl for medical check-up where the doctor confirmed that there was penetration.
According to her, she received so much insult from the parents of the boy who have been careless about the condition of her daughter but were quick to accuse her of being responsible for the arrest of their son.
On his part, the step father to the accused, Tersoo Ibiamkee, said, “I felt pity for the boy for being remanded as a little boy. I feel that it will be more harmful to him because it will expose him to certain bad persons.
“I have tried to see the complainant on how to resolve the issue out of court but to no avail. Considering that I also have a boy of the same age with him. I wish if justice will be tempered with mercy and he will be granted pardon,” he said.
