A Primary six pupil of Ochege Central School, Ukawu, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, (names withheld) has allegedly been gang-raped by four boys.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred on October 13, 2018, when the victim’s guardian, Mr. Ngwuta Nweke, sent her to fetch water from the school’s hand-pumped borehole at about 5:00pm.
The four boys allegedly waylaid and gang-raped her while she was on the errand.
The victim alleged in an interview with our correspondent that the four boys, namely, Offor Nwanga, 17; Ekene Okorie, 15; Valentine Okorie, 16; and Chizaram Nwuzor,13, who are all natives of the community, were playing football match on the school field on her arrival, when they suddenly attacked and raped her.
She alleged that they forced her to put down the bucket of water she was carrying on her head and inspite of her please and protest, they raped her in turns.
According to her, while two of her attackers held her hands and got busy with forceful foreplay processes of kissing and pressing her breasts, the two others held her legs, as they each took turns to forcibly have sex with her.
She said her shout for rescue and help could not be heard by anyone because the scene was deserted and lonely as it was far from houses.
The victim implored the concerned authorities to intervene and obtain justice for her.
The young girl’s guardian, Nweke, explained that the distance from their house to and fro the only source of potable water for the community was supposed to take her a maximum of one hour, adding that he became worried when she was not seen till after 7pm. arraigned before an Abakaliki Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Oguoke Stella.
He said she was later found crying at the scene of the alleged crime.
Nweke said he then lodged a complaint with the police and the suspects were
The court remanded the teenage suspects in the Abakaliki Juvenile Remand Home.
The accused boys’ lawyers had earlier pleaded with the court for bail for their clients, especially due to their young ages.
The accused boys were charged with committing offences punishable under Section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009 and Section 34(1) of the Ebonyi State Child Rights Law and Related Matters, 2010.
The chief magistrate also ordered the transfer of the matter to the Family High Court.
Those accused of engaging in foreplay during the act, were charged separately, due to the degree of their offences as confirmed by the victim, which made their bail possible.
Since the matter was within the jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ court, the accused persons’ pleas were taken and they pleaded not guilty as charged while their defense counsels led by Sunday U. Ununu, brought to the knowledge of the court the readiness of their parents, Mr. Michael Igwe and Okorie Nwusulor, to stand surety for them, settle the issue at home and make the suspects available whenever needed.
They were granted bail in the sum of N50,000,00 each and one surety in like sum. The court also ordered them to produce people described as “reasonable adults” as sureties and who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. These sureties are to deposit two recent passport photographs of both the suspects and themselves. Their addresses are also to be duly verified.
The matter was transferred to the Family High Court and adjourned to a later date for hearing.
