The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and security personnel, seized a 34-year-old seminarian named Chukwudi Okoye for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
The suspect, who is alleged to be an Anglican seminarian, committed the atrocity in the Amanuke community of Awka North Local Government Area in Anambra State.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, Media Aide to the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, stated that the incident occurred sometime in July and was brought to the ministry’s attention in August by a whistleblower.
Ikeanyionwu went on to say that the commissioner, through security personnel, initiated a search for the suspect, apprehended him, and brought him in for questioning by law enforcement authorities.
The statement read in part, “The suspect, Chukwudi Okoye, 34, a native of Enugwu-Agidi but resident at Amanuke, said he only fingered the survivor because his manhood could not enter her private part.
“According to the 34-year-old suspect, he never intended to do such a despicable act but was lured into it when the 10-year-old lay on his bed. Although he denied penetrating the girl, he at the same time pleaded for pardon because it was the work of the devil, according to him.
“The suspect is said to be a seminarian in the Anglican Communion in Amanuke.
“Meanwhile, the 10-year-old victim stated that she was defiled on the day of her graduation ceremony when the suspect called her alongside her friend to come and wash her plate for him.
“She explained that after she had finished washing the plate, he discharged her friend and asked her to play with him before taking her to the bed, where he removed her clothes and had carnal knowledge of her.
“On why she did not tell anyone of the incident, the little girl said that she was seriously warned by the suspect never to tell anyone or he would deal with her.”
When questioned, the victim’s grandmother stated that she only learnt of the occurrence one week later, when the girl became critically ill.
“The grandmother explained that she took her granddaughter to the suspect’s house after she learnt that he was responsible for the act.
“She said it was in the process that the suspect decided to take the child to the hospital, where they were subsequently referred to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for further treatment,” the statement added.
As of the time of this report, the suspect had been handed over to police for further investigation, and the case had been charged in court.
