A 12-year-old girl, identified only as Favour, has been rescued by the police in the Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos, where her aunt and the husband allegedly took her to get rid of a controversial pregnancy.
It was learnt that Favour had been “raped” several times by her aunt’s husband, identified as Johnbull Dike, before she eventually got pregnant.
It was learnt that while Favour was put in police’s care, a manhunt was launched for Johnbull, a tricycle rider, who fled the area after the police rescued the girl.
According to Punch, Dike’s wife and the nurse who was caught during the abortion had been arrested by the Akinpelu Police Division. The girl was taken to the nurse on Sunmola Street, Mafoluku, on May 4.
Some residents gave a tip-off to a child rights’ group, Child Protection Network who involved the police. A source said that Favour, who was discovered to be four months pregnant, had been allegedly r*ped on several occasions by the suspect since January 2016.
It was said that Johnbull, a father of three and Happiness found out that Favour was pregnant in February, after which they bundled her to stay with their trader friend in Mafoluku, to hide the evil deed.
However, the woman was said to have returned Favour to the couple in April, saying she could not afford to take care of her.
Punch reports that Johnbull and Happiness, who lived on Brown Street, subsequently took Favour to the nurse to get rid of the pregnancy.
The matter was reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in Alausa.
A worker with the Child Protection Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, said Favour did not inform her aunt about the r*pe, because the suspect had allegedly threatened to kill her if she did.
He said, “The case was brought to my attention by a community development committee secretary in Oshodi, Mr. Mamora. The victim was r*ped and impregnated by her aunt’s husband.
“I went to see the girl at the place where the aunt had taken her with the connivance of a nurse to abort the pregnancy. The girl underwent a scan before the abortion. It was a failed process because she began to bleed at the nurse’s place. The police were informed on that Wednesday and the two women were arrested, while Johnbull fled.
“The policemen took Favour to a proper hospital to get rid of the remaining foetus. As it is, the suspect is on the run because he knew that the girl is with the police.”
At the police station, Happiness said her husband had fled from the house since the day of her arrest.
She said, “He has not called me since that day. His phone numbers are also switched off.”
A police source said Happiness was later granted bail because her last child had an infection and needed her attention.
Lagos Police PRO, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that “There is a case of defilement against Johnbull. His wife and the nurse have been arrested for aborting a pregnancy. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the Gender Unit of the command.
“The suspect is on the run, but efforts are on to arrest him. Meanwhile, the wife and the nurse will both be charged to court.”