A 38-year-old man, Ebuka Ofoma, from Osumenyi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been arrested for allegedly defiling a three-year-old child in the community.
Ofoma was arrested on Friday by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in collaboration with the state police operatives following a tip-off by a whistleblower of his illicit acts.
In a statement and video posted on Saturday by the media aide to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the suspect said he committed the act under the influence of alcohol.
According to the statement, when interrogated, the suspect confessed to the crime but claimed he consumed eight bottles of beer on an occasion, which got him intoxicated, to have committed the act.
Recounting how it happened, the suspect said, “The little girl approached me at a traditional wedding ceremony where I was already drunk and enjoying myself, and dragged me to come and watch masquerade outside.
“After I reluctantly followed her to the scene, the girl, in fear of the masquerade, cuddled me beside a car, while I began to finger her.”
He confessed to having inserted his two fingers into the victim’s genitalia while claiming that he was not enjoying or feeling anything when he was defiling her.
He further explained that people who were around the scene when he was doing that, went to call the mother of the child when they noticed what was going on, only for him to be arrested later in his house.
“Reacting to the development, the commissioner vowed to get to the root of the matter and ensure justice is served as a deterrent to others. The suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
“She warned parents to be careful about who they entrust their daughters with, adding that the state government is all out to rid the state of illicit behaviours,” the statement added.
